MARSHALL COUNTY. 




PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 



HISTORY 



MARSHALL COUNTY, 



IOWA. 



By MRS. N. SAISTFORD. 



CLINTON, IOWA: 

LESLIE, McALLASTER & CO., PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 

18 67-. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In giving this little book to the citizens of Marshall 
County, it may be well to say it was written under many 
embarrassing circumstances, and not with the intention 
of making any elaborate literary effort. We have only 
tried to show the great advance made in the wealth and 
prosperity of this section of Iowa — the rightful heritage 
of the toilers amid the rocks and sterile soil of the East ; 
therefore, we ask the kindly consideration of the critic. 

We commenced it as a pamphlet work, but many 
wishing it in a more permanent form, we have finally 
issued it to our readers in a manner better suited to their 
tastes. 

We are mucli indebted to many of our prominent 

citizens for pecuniary help, and shall ever remember 

them gratefully for their kindness. Also, to the Hon. 

H. C. Henderson, for some of the legal points in the 

narration of the Marietta war; to A. J. Smith, Esq., of 

Timber Creek, for items connected with its history ; and 

to K. F. Cleaver, of Vienna, for the hst of her soldier 

dead. 

NETTIE SAXFORD. 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

MARSHALL COUNTY 9 

Railroads 11 

Stone and Timber 11 

Pasturage 12 

Manufactures 13 

Common Schools, etc 14 

Military Record 14 

History of the County 18 

Indian War 20 

Le Grand Township 26 

Women's Rights 29 

Le Grand Institute 30 

Present Prosperity i , 31 

TniBER Creek Township 82 

Marietta Toavnship ; 36 

Marietta 40 

Marietta Battle 49 

The Onset 54 

The Retreat 5G 

Removing the County Records 61 

New Year's Reception 61 

The Death Blow 62 

Hon. D. L. Arnold 63 

T. Abell, Esq 63 

Iowa Township 65 

Albion 66 

A Brewing Tempest 68 

Primitive Living 69 



Yl CONTEXTS. 

Page 

Marshall To wxshi p 13 

Henry Anson, Esq. 16 

Marshallto wn 17 

Dr. John Childs 18 

Sylvanus Rice, Esq 19 

Wells Rice, Esq 19 

John A. Kelly, Esq 81 

C. B. Straight 81 

Distillery , 83 

Amusements 83 

Births and Deaths 86 

A Double Wedding 86 

Discomforts of Pioneer Life 81 

Sabbath School 81 

Singing Scliool 81 

Blackberry Hunt 88 

Tea Drinking 89 

Fourth of July Celebration 89 

Concert 90 

Pioneer Mercliants 91 

Click & Willigrod 93 

David E. Parret 94 

Mr. S. Lacy 95 

Hon. H. C. Henderson 98 

Hon. Gr. M. Woodbury 99 

The Bell Society 102 

' ' Tambos " 104 

Methodist Episcopal Church 105 

Camp Meeting 107 

A New School Presbyterian Church 108 

Lutheran Church 109 

Baptists 109 

Disciples Church 110 

Universalists 110 

Mite Societies, etc 110 

The Press 110 

Horticultural Society 112 

Aid Societies 112 

Celebration of Opening; of Cedar Rapids and Missouri R.R. 113 

Pilgrimage to the Jordan 115 



CONTEXTS. Vii 

Page 
YiENXA TOWXSHTP . 117 

Bangor Towxship 120 

Bangor 120 

Minerva Township 123 

Clemens' Corners 125 

Marion Township 125 

Green Mountain 126 

Fredonia 126 

Greencastle Township 129 

Eden Township 131 

Edenville.. ., 132 

Order of Good Templars 184 

State Center Township 135 

Terrible Tornado 136 

Prosperity of the Township 137 

Washington Township 138 

Prairie Fires 139 

Accidents on Linn Creek 140 

Jefferson Township 142 

Hunting Parties 144 

Conservatism 145 

Liberty Township 145 

Storm in 1859 146 

Marshall County — its Population, Wealth, etc 148 

Marshalltown — Notices of her Business Men, etc 149 

In the Courts 151 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY 153—157 

ADVERTISEMENTS 159—1 08 

C. AV. Fracker, Insurance 159 

Hill, Liddle & Pollock, Dry Goods, etc 100 

Dr. George Whealan, Dry Goods, etc 160 

C. W. Sherman, Marshall House 160 

John Turner & Co., Hardware 161 

Wm. C. Page, Washing Machine 161 

Lee & Bromley, Dry Goods, etc 16? 

BiNFORD Bro's & Morgan, Agricultural Implements .... 162 
Banbury & Caswell, Groceries, etc 162 



viii CONTENTS. 

ADVERTISEMENTS — continwcl Page 

Marshall's Restaurant 162 

Smith & Utz, Marble Works 108 

G. M. Woodbury & Son, Woolen Mills 164 

First National Bank of Mabshalltown 164 

J. Lee Knight, Photographer 164 

AVoodworth & Whitton, Dry Goods, etc 165 

Harvey & Davis, Dry Goods, etc 165 

Mrs N. M. Holt, Millinery 165 

Dr. Wm. H. Marvin, Surgeon Dentist 165 

W. S. Rice, General Merchandise 166 

S. Lacey, Furniture 167 

Abbott & Knisely, Hardware 168 




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IOWA 



Much has been said and very much written upon 
the inducements that Iowa holds out to settlers, yet 
like the glory of the East to the Queen of sacred 
story, the half has not been told. The word " Iowa " 
in one Indian dialect means the " drowsy," and the 
beautiful stream bearing this name sleeps along the 
prairie's edge through Marshall county as if loth to 
leave its pleasant borders. There are wild apples and 
wild roses on its banks — you hear the drows}^ tapping 
of the partridge in the cottonwoods — the drone of 
beetles ; a little further on in a quiet bayou, there are 
white lilies bearing a resemblance to the ancient lotus, 
where wild bees are slumbering within their pearly 
folds ; these sights and sounds to a child of nature, 
be he poet or Pottawatomie, have a drowsy, sweet sig- 
nificance in the word Iowa. We write the history 
of • 

MARSHALL COUNTY, 

With a few statistics, to show what a wonderful 
progress has been made in little less than twenty years, 
in developing the resources and wealth of the coun- 
try. We give a very short geographical delineation 
of Marshall. It is situated near the forty-first 
2 



10 lOAVA. 

parallel of latitude, is almost exactly in the center of 
the State, twenty-four miles square, and contains 
368,640 acres of magnificent land ■ — an almost un- 
broken garden through its limits. This county is 
divided into sixteen civil townships, Vienna, Bangor, 
Iowa, Libert}^, Minerva, Marion, Le Grand, Greencastle, 
Marshall, Timber Creek, Jefferson, Washington, Mari- 
etta, Eden, State Center, and one township not named. 

The products are wheat, corn, rye, oats, barley, 
broom-corn, sorghum, garden vegetables and wild fruit 
in great profusion. Vegetables grow to an enormous 
size ; they would scarcely be recognized if thrown 
among their poor relations of the Atlantic shore. 
There are good orchards in every township, and we 
will be able soon to depend upon home culture for 
fruit. There are nurseries scattered all through the 
county to supply farmers with young trees and cuttings, 
which ought to be patronized instead of getting dry 
and worthless sticks from the East. One farmer in this 
section paid twenty-five dollars for Eastern fruit trees, 
and received a single apple tree in the collection 
that wore a leaf. All the fruits that can be grown in 
this latitude, can be successfully cultivated in Iowa, 
except peaches, and even these can be grown by care- 
ful culture. 

There is a prejudice against our climate which is 
wholly unfounded, that it is too severe for fruit — often 
an excuse for idleness in the care of trees, etc. We 
have cold winters but plenty of snow, and the autumns 
are the very perfection of climate. The springs are 
a degree warmer than New York, Northern Penn- 
sylvania and Ohio. Flowers are ])eerless, both on 
the prairie and in the door-yards. Hon. D. L. 
Arnold received the diploma for the most tastefully 
arranged garden, by the Fair committee last season. 
There was a magnificent gladiolus that bloomed in 
Mrs. C. B. Straight's j^ard in Marshalltown, the past 
summer; pansies of the largest size and velvet}^ 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 11 

richness, at Mrs. H. Wiley's ; and in every day beauty, 
glowed crimson grass pinks and larkspurs, in Mrs. 
Peet's yard. Nothing could surpass the Ijeautiful 
collection of green-house plants at Mr. C. C. Smith's ; 
and for evergreens, magnificent in proportion, we point 
to Mr. Woodbury's and Mr. Willigrod's grounds on 
Station street. Mrs. Bunce has a beautifully arranged 
flower plat also, and is very successful in the cul- 
ture of strawberries. A piece of ground five feet by 
ten, grew the enormous quantity of twenty-four quarts 
of this delicious fruit at different pickings. Mr. 
Barnhart has been equally fortunate in strawberry 
raising ; so that we can safely say that Iowa cannot be 
surpassed in this fruit, with proper culture, for in other 
parts of the town and county, nearly like results have 
been obtained. The forest is full of wild apples 
and plums, and honey is plentiful and cheap. 

RAILROADS. 

The Cedar Kapids and Missouri, sometimes called 
the Iowa Northwestern, is now finished to Omaha, 
connecting with the Union Pacific, giving railroad 
connection westward w^ith the North Platte and Den- 
ver, and eastward, by car, to Chicago, and onward to 
the sea-girt shore. We supply many of the little 
towns and stations along the line with provisions, 
especially butter, eggs, etc. Tliere is another road 
projected from Marshalltown to Eldora, which will be 
finished before many years. 

The Pacific Telegraph, whose lines glisten west to 
the Sierra Nevada, and north to the new land of Sitka, 
passes through Marshalltown from Chicago, thus 
giving us lightning prescience with the world. 

STONE AND TIMBER. 

Freestone for building purposes is found in Le Grand, 
Marion ; and at the corner of Timber Creek township, 



12 IOWA. 

is found a dark red conglomerate, whicli is easily 
wrought, admirably adapted for foundations to build- 
ings, wells, etc. Brick is manufactured of an excel- 
lent character here, while dressed lumber can be 
obtained at our yards in unlimited amount and of 
the best quality, beside that from the native forests, 
making building a light matter to the settler. AVe 
have large groves of Cottonwood, oak, lime, hack- 
berry, wajnut, hickory, etc., which are ready for the 
ax, growing like Jack's bean-stalk, in the rich soil, if 
the prairie fires are kept at a respectful distance. 
Coal is brought from Boone and Eldora by car and 
wagons, although there is plenty of coal in the county 
as will be seen under the head of the different town- 
ships, but it is not so easily worked as at the above- 
mentioned places. 

PASTURAGE. 

The immense range of our plains is rapidly lessen- 
ing, but still there is enough for stock — great plenty. 
With the present efficient machinery, hay can be had 
for the cutting, in the lowlands, abundantly able to 
furnish feed for any amount of animals. The Marshall 
County Agricultural Society has given some very 
choice premiums for farm stock, so that in tliis 
section we have some fine horses. The fastest time 
made b}^ a native, Blackhawk Tom, given by his 
owner, H. Nash, was 2.49. And mules, too — fine 
specimens. Swine are raised by the thousands, mostly 
of an improved breed. 

President Chapin of the Agricultural Society has 
been very energetic in making the organization a 
power for good among the farmers, and there have been 
some creditable exhibitions at the Fair grounds east 
of Marshalltown. But the crowning profit of agri- 
cultural investment is in sheep. Our high and dry 
prairies, if the animals are protected from the cold 
winds, are extremely favorable to a healthy growth. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 13 

The wool commands a high price at the factory of 
Woodbury & Son, and Eastern buyers are ready here 
to keep this staple at a high figure. 

MANUFACTURES. 

There are thirteen grist and saw mills in different 
parts of the county, and others in process of erection. 
Some of these have powerful engines, doing an im- 
mense business in flour, and building-lumber. 

We have two carding machines, an iron foundry by 
Lockwood & Frederick, of Marshalltown, also a sash, 
blind and glove factory, and three broom factories, 
which have made in a year about twenty-two hun- 
dred dozen brooms, supplying other towns with 
these useful articles to a great extent. We will enu- 
merate four carriage shops, a large plow manufactory, 
a chandler shop, four butcher establishments, a 
fanning mill factory ; and Messrs. Shaw & Andrews 
are making a splendid article of window shades. 

We have not space to particularize, but in the notice 
of the different townships, and city directory, the 
stranger may read of our unwonted prosperity in this 
direction. But in the factory of Mr. G. M. Woodbury 
& Son, is the chef d^ceuvre of Marshalltown enterprise. 
It is situated near the depot, built of Le Grand free- 
stone, four stories, the main building eighty by fifty 
feet, and, with the machinery, cost about fifty 
thousand dollars. It runs ten looms, four hundred 
and fifty spindles, manufactures, daily, three hundred 
and fifty yards of cloth, and daily employs twenty-five 
persons. The building is heated throughout by the 
escape steam passing through pipes, and is lighted by 
gas generated in the building. It is a very extensive 
afiair for the Iowa valley, and reflects great credit 
upon Mr. Woodbury and Son for their public spirit 
and energy. 
J In the Iowa river north of Marshalltown, there is a 



14 IOWA. 

water power of ten feet, already turning a grist mill, 
a large carding machine, saw mill, etc., and 3^et it is 
not half improved. AVe invite capitalists from the 
East to this point, and can safely insure a paying in- 
vestment upon stock. An oil mill would do well 
here if farmers should interest themselves in flaxseed. 

COMMON" SCHOOLS, ETC. 

No county in the State is better supplied with good 
schools and buildings than Marshall. There are 
eighty subdistricts and seventy school houses, and 
well furnished with the modern improvements for 
the benefit of the students. 

School buildings are under contract in different 
parts of the county this coming season, which will 
increase our educational advantages sufficiently to 
meet every want of the community. Our proximity 
to the Agricultural College of Story county will soon 
be of great benefit to our people, as well as to the 
State at large. Teachers are well paid from the mag- 
nificent school fund, and a healthy public sentiment 
sustains them in all efforts to maintain discipline, and 
inculcate lessons of morality and religion. 

MILITARY RECORD. 

Marshall County has a proud record in putting 
down the slaveholders' rebellion, having sent over 
eight hundred to the grand army of the Union. This, 
according to her population, was a good showing of 
her patriotic spirit. Gloriously, the brave boys from 
our midst carried the old flag on the bloody fields of 
Pittsburg Landing, Donelson, Inka, Milliken's Bend, 
Champion Hills, and many, many other places, where 
they won a renown equal to the heroes of Marathon 
and Thermopylae. But it is idle for an insignificant 
pen like ours to attempt to write an eulogy on Iowa 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 15 

soldiers. We might as well attempt to describe the 
Alps, or do any other impossible thing. The brave 
deeds of Marshall soldiers are written in blood by the 
Fifth, Eighth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Twenty-third 
Regiments of Iowa Volunteers. Also, in the Second 
Iowa Cavalry, Fourth Battery, and too, in the 
Eighth Cavalry, and there were a few in the Fourth 
Cavalry. 

The prison life of some of these would fill a volume, 
that attests their heroic fortitude. And, first on the 
shining record, is Simon Woolston, of Edenville, who 
died in the filthy stockade of Andersonville, after 
eight weeks of horrible suffering from wounds, disease 
and starvation. He is wearing the martyr's crown 
with others from our regiment rolls, and may their 
memory be ever fragrant to a patriotic people. We 
must honor our returned soldiers more, cherish the 
memory of the lost in our heart of hearts, and build, 
just as soon as possible, some grand testimonial within 
our limits, in memory of those who gave their lives 
for the preservation of the Republic. 

Among our citizens whom we should honor, is 
Colonel Banbury, Colonel Shurtz, Captain Haskins, 
Captains Cleavers and Page, Lieutenants Hoffman, 
Beeson, and the glorious rank and file, who won the 
battles without straps or chevrons. If there are any 
we have omitted here, it is for want of space ; they are 
all good and brave ; rather than detract from the 
fame of an Iowa soldier, let our right arm be paralyzed, 
and " the shoulder be broken from the bone." 

In this connection, we will speak of the escape of 
Captain Pcige and Lieut. M. Hoffman from prison 
after thirteen months' captivity, nearly. They were 
taken with Sergeant Oviatt and eight men at Mission 
Ridge, November 25, 1863, and sent to Libby prison 
by way of the Southern railroads. When within a 
few miles of Augusta, Ga., Captain Page having made 
a saw from a table knife, managed to cut a hole 



16 IOWA. 

through the bottom of the car, and drop out on the 
track. He eluded their pursuit five days, when he 
was recaptured by the bloodhounds, and was sent on 
with the rest to Libby prison, where he and Hoffman 
spent five months among the chivalry that dispensed 
mouldy corn-cob bread and mule meat, instead of their 
boasted hospitality. In the meantime Edward Bissell, 
one of the nine, died at Belle Island. 

The fate of another of the party, Alonzo Eogers, 
never was known ; very likely he was killed by the 
dogs in trying to make his escape. Three of the 
number were sent to Andersonville, where they died 
in the filthy stockade. As I look upward among the 
stars, I read the names of these soldier martyrs, John 
Miller, Charles Smith, and Andrew Heller. 

On the 7th of May following, the party from Libby 
prison were transferred to Macon, Ga. ; after spending 
a part of the summer in that Southern resort, they 
were sent to Charleston, S. C, for the humane purpose 
of being placed under fire for the protection of the 
city. But Union bullets and shells had another 
mission, and fortunately they escaped unhurt as the 
shells still screamed on over the dismantled churches, 
etc. Many of the prisoners dying of the yellow fever, 
the Marshall boys, with others, were ordered on board 
a train bound lor Columbia, S. C. Captains Page and 
Hoffman again attempted an escape, but were retaken 
on the fourth day and placed in durance vile. While 
the train was moving quite slow in passing a crossing, 
they slipped slyly down from the open cars and 
crawled under the bridge till the train was out of 
sight, when they made for a cornfield, on the double 
quick. But in spite of all their precaution and inge- 
nuity, they were brought back again under the rebel 
flag. 

At last, in being paroled to get wood and pine brush 
for bedding, they made their final escape, and after 
thirty-five days of patient, weary travel, they reached 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 17 

our lines at Sweet Water, forty miles from Knoxville, 
Tenn. They were ragged, and their feet were sore 
and blistered ; hungry and emaciated, they were glad 
to see their comrades, and the old starry banner float 
ing over the little station. They had no guide but 
the North Star and the faithful blacks, who divided 
food with them. Page used to sing the battle hymns 
of the Republic to these lowly men and women of 
the South, then partake of their humble food with 
merry laughter, having Hoffman and a certain Major 
for vis a vis companions. 

Riley Westcott, now living in Wisconsin, and Charles 
Eagen, were left at Belle Island, but were regularly 
exchanged afterward. 

While Captain Page was at Charleston, he sent a 
letter to his wife enclosed in a button of a surgeon's 
coat sewed on in the proper place. It gave great 
comfort to his anxious family although it was only 
four by five inches square. 

Colonel Shurtz, once a private in the Mexican war, 
was taken prisoner at Nooney, Ga., and making his 
escape twice, was finally taken to Columbia, S. C. 
He was severely wounded in the hands, crippling him 
for life, yet managed to subsist on the miserable fare, 
when he was exchanged after five months' captivity. 

Let us not forget the sufferings of these men, and 
when we can show our gratitude in society, in conven- 
tions, on all public occasions, let such as these take 
the " upper seats in the synagogue." 

There was another noble, patriotic, young man who 
went from our midst, Martin Y. B. Drum, who died 
after twelve months' service, at Camp Big Springs, 
Miss. He was buried on a bright Fourth of July 
morning, the thunders of the garrison pealing out 
that there were still brawny arms to defend the nation 
he had given his young life to save. He was the soul 
of the camp and sadly missed by his companions as 
they laid him down to rest under the sods of the 
Southern vale. In coelo quies. 



18 IOWA. 

Perhaps there was no soldier from this county who 
gained promotion under prouder circumstances than 
Clarington Pojnes. He entered Captain Page's 
company, a very uaprepossessing private, but rose to 
the position of Captain after three years' service and 
re-enlistment in the Iowa Third Cavalry. He re- 
ceived his commission on the day of his death, being 
shot in leading his company at the taking of Nash- 
ville bridge. He had already struck down two rebels 
with his trusty sword. 

HISTORY. 

Prior to the settlement of this county by the whites, 
it was inhabited by the Sac and Fox tribes of Indians, 
remnants of the once powerful nation presided over by 
the far-famed Black Hawk. A portion of these 
Indians roving westward have returned, and now live 
in this and Tama county by permission of the legisla- 
ture, but are nearly all incapable of civilization. 
They call themselves Musquaquas. In the winter of 
1847, a body of Mormons in their flight from Nauvoo 
to Salt Lake, camped and stayed through the winter 
in the forest north of where Marshalltown now stands. 
Famine and disease attacked them and many perished, 
although they peeled the red elm bark for bread. 
In the spring following, they folded their tents and 
planted their church standards beyond tlie Big Muddy. 
A few stragglers remained and built cabins at Council 
Bluffs. 

The first permanent white settler in the county was 
Joseph Davison, who came to Li3 Grand township in 
18dt7, and very soon after, his brother, William Davi- 
son, came and built a cabin in that vicinity. But the 
first settlement of any size was made in Timber Creek 
on the south side of the grove, in ISiS. The pioneers 
of the movement were Joseph Ferguson and Josiah 
Cooper. After this, a few settlers came into Iowa 



MAESHALL COUNTY. 19 

townsliips, Bangor, Marietta, and Marshall. The 
county was organized in 18i9, J. M. Ferguson acting 
as sheriff, and J. Hobbs was appointed judge. 

In July of 1851, the first court was held in a little 
log building in the edge of the forest near where 
Colonel Shurtz lives, the grand jury meeting in the 
bushes just across the slough. No iDill of indictment 
was found, and these representatives of justice were in 
session only about ten minutes. How the merry 
squirrels and gophers must have laughed in their 
sleeves at the solemn faces of the iurors with nothino: 

JO 

to do. 

The First District Court washeld, with Judge McKay 
from Des Moines, on the bench. Several lawyers of 
great renown, afterwards, were there. Lieutenant- 
Governor Eastman, in those days called "Uncle 
Enoch," was quite prominent in cutting hay for the 
horses owned by this august body, as well as expound- 
ing law and equity. Seevers, of Oskaloosa, laughed 
at him somewhat, telling him, with a curious leer in 
his eye, that he made better winrows than speeches. 
Cassidy, of Polk, who now ranks high in the profes- 
sion, was also in attendance, and a young lawyer 
who never gained much distinction, by the name of 
Young. 

As the family of Mr. William Ealls lived in the 
cabin there was not much room for forensic display. 
Mrs. Ealls cooked their meals out of doors by a chunk 
fire, and when night came Attorneys Eastman and 
Seevers were obliged to sleep in the loft, climbing up 
a pole ladder. Their dignity was somewhat taken 
down as they slowly swung themselves over the heads 
of the family. As Eastman went up, looking down 
at the cradle (rather a primitive one, made of oak 
shakes), " Well," said the witty lawyer, " that looks 
like the running gear of a whippoor will's nest." 

Zeno Freeman was treasurer. John Amos, Green- 
bury Ralls, and William Ballard, were county commis- 



20 IOWA. 

si oners, which answered to the wants of the county 
in the same manner that our board of supervisors do 
to-day. A Mr. Walker was school fund commis- 
sioner sometime after ; and Jacob Hauser was county 
clerk. 

At this term of the court there were two cases on 
the docket, Higgins v. Smith, of Hardin county, and 
the divorce suit of William Davison and his wife, who 
were made twain, instead of one flesh. Mrs. Davison 
remarked, as her husband rode up on horseback, 
" La ! " said she, " Old Billy thinks he 's goin' to git 
a divorce, anyhow. See how straight he sets up." 

Sometime during the summer of this year, the 
commissioners appointed by the legislature to locate 
the county seat for Marshall, passed over some very 
eligible locations so it was said, but finally settled on 
Marietta, a good deal influenced by the judgment of 
William Dishon, a settler in that region. 

In the history of the county, we must not omit that 
this was the year for the highest water known since 
its settlement. The Iowa river was three miles wide, 
and creeks came rushing down in mighty torrents 
carrying off the few bridges, so that it was almost im- 
possible to travel far in any direction without " dug 
outs." Previous to this year, in 1850, we hear of the 
great 

INDIAN WAR. 

Through the month of May there had been some 
little trouble with Samuel Davison, a son of Mr. 
William Davison, and the Musquaquas. They being 
in close proximity, and the red men jealous of the 
encroachments of the whites upon their hunting 
grounds, a very respectable quarrel could be got up 
without much efibrt. 

The Indians grew saucy and threatening, and going 
one day to Mr. John Campbell's claim, killed some 



MAKSHALL COUNTY. 21 

of his hogs, drove off a few stock, and pointed their 
guns at him in a very wicked manner. 

They had war dances, and were on the war path every 
day, armed and painted for a fight if there had been any 
more provocation. Twenty-four armed braves called 
at Mrs. Kalis' cabin one day, but seeing them coming 
she retreated to the bushes. A little nephew of hers 
took up an old hammer on his march and bravely 
made the declaration, that he could knock down 
"one big Ingin." But there was no harm done this 
time. 

There is no doubt but that Davison burned corn 
belonging to the Indians, intending to exasperate 
them and have "a little brush," when the U. S. 
troops would expel the red men from Iowa. This 
was soon after the Mexican war, and the Indians were 
hardly settled into the belief that the Great Father at 
Washington was all powerful. The settlers on the 
south side of Iowa river united in a petition to Major 
Wood, of Fort Dodge, for help, who answered by 
saying, he could spare no troops then, and that 
they must remove from the vicinity, or protect them- 
selves. 

Among those who petitioned, and afterward went 
into the fort, were W. C. Smith, John Campbell, A. 
J. Smith, John Braddy, William and Gr. S. Ralls, 
Mr. Crowder, James L. Logan, Thomas and James 
Pearson. Blakely Brush, Joseph Cooper, Joseph M. 
Ferguson, S. Myers, Carpenter Geer, Thomas Sher- 
man, William and Washington Asher, John Duck, 

Riley Majors, Thomas Sherman, Clifton, and 

Samuel Bowman. 

Some tried to hire the Indians to leave. No ! no, 
*' heapy sick down in Missouri, all die — no go — lay 
bones in Iowa — heapy good ! " 

Hearing that there were at least 1,500 warriors 
getting ready for battle, these settlers we have men- 
tioned, with their families, rendezvoused not far from 



22 IOWA. 

a Mr. Eobinson, witli their stock, a few pigs and 
chickens, leaving the growing corn and gardens to the 
tender mercies of the Musquaquas. There was no 
attempt to raise wheat. 

On arriving at Mr. Kobin son's, they dispatched John 
Braddy and Mr. Greenbury Ealls after arms and am- 
munition ; they commenced a stockade fort on Burke's 
Hill, where the remains are not to be seen at present. 
It was begun on the 11th of June, 1850, was occupied 
as soon as finished, and called Fort Eobinson. In 
this, twenty-four families took refuge, leaving their 
crops, and made preparations for spending the summer 
in a close stockade, instead of going to Newport or 
the White Mountains. 

The stockade was ninety feet square, built of pun- 
cheons, driven like piles into the ground, so that it 
made the fort walls about ten feet high. They 
brought in their furniture, bedding and provisions, 
but kept the cattle upon the outside. An occasional 
dog crept in; they heard the birds sing in the grove 
near by, and with over thirty children, there was no 
lack of music, even if the young calves fastened to 
the stockade were silent. The ladies patched their 
husbands' coats, and talked over the probabilities of 
an engagement with the redskins to keep from ennui. 
Their tents were made of wagon covers and old quilts ; 
they had a few " chunk fires " in common ; each fam- 
ily had their own table, with all they could get to eat 
upon it, so that after all there was plenty to do. 
Some of the meat was kept at Mr. Eobinson 's smoke 
house, also the milk and butter. William 0. Smith 
(afterwards Judge) and John Campbell, generally 
went down to the Indians' camp every day, as a sort 
of outside guard and detectives. On the fifth day of 
the seige, they went again to the Wichyu'ps and found 
them with large camp fires burning, and six kettles 
placed in a row, partly filled with water. Six good 



riiy ni 
,g by tl 



sized dogs were hung by the neck with strong twine, 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 23 

while the warriors danced around them for two hours, 
brandishing war clubs and looking war to the knife. 
After the perspiration had washed their faces of the 
paint, and they seemed pretty well exhausted, the 
squaws threw in the dogs into the kettles, where a 
sort of stew was made in the style of Macbeth's 
witches, with the exception it was all dog. After a 
little time this was dished out by the beldames, and 
given to the panting warriors, a little sugar being 
sprinkled on the savory morsel to make it more pala- 
table. 

There were about fifteen hundred braves assembled, 
and it looked dark for the little handful in the fort. 
The next day these gentlemen went again, and on the 
trail met four different parties of Indians well armed, 
who stopped them with their guns, and interrogated 
them as to the number of men in the fort. They 
answered, " big heap white men," and passed on, spend- 
ing the night at Wm. Davison's. The seventh day 
the Indians came back a^s^ain, and asked Captain 
James Logan, the commander of the fort, "how many 
guns ? " He of course exaggerated the number of 
men and arms, and talked of a " big chief and Sioux," 
as Mr. Smith had done, when again they went away, 
sullen and still. 

A very few days after this, Wm. Davison, thinking 
it would be a nice thing to test the courage of the 
garrison and commander, laid a plan for a sham 
attack. Letting the guard for the night (William 
Asher, who had a tremendous shot gun that had 
done some good execution among the wolves. Jack 
Braildy and Carpenter Geer,) into the secret, he went 
upon the hill where the cattle were lying down, when 
he raised a stampede. There was a hurrying of many 
feet ; the cow -bells jingled at an awful rate, as if there 
were many warriors in the distance ; reports of guns 
were heard, and the little company were soon fully 
aroused, and trjdng to meet the dreadful emergency. 



24 IOWA. 

Mrs. Logan sent to her husband, " keep your guns 
clean and your powder dry," as cool as if it were a 
shooting match for a Christmas turkey. Of course 
every light was extinguished ; the Captain said, in 
hushed whispers, " Keep still and keep in your beds, 
women." Some of the little ones had quick ears, and 
it was very difficult to control their movements, but on 
the whole, they behaved well. There was of course a 
terrible excitement ; the men grasped their guns, and 
some of the ladies commenced praying without pref- 
ace, and others shouted, " Lord, save us." Poor old 
Mrs. Robinson, thinking she was not quite ready for 
the scalp knife, fell on her knees, repeating quite loud 
enough for a Musquaqua to hear had he listened, 
" Oh ! Lord, I have tried to live in thy service through 
life, but I find I 've not enough religion to die by. 
Give me more, Lord, please ! " 

Logan acted very well, and most of the men, but 
no Indians appeared over the walls, and finally about 
daylight, after finding no moccasin print, the garrison 
concluded they had been sold. Nothing could equal 
their chagrin and indignation, and had it not been that 
white men were scarce, somebody would have got a 
severe punishment. 

One lady was enctente, the fright producing a dan- 
gerous illness, and no physician within fifty miles ; 
matters looked dismal for the jokers who set the 
project on foot. But the lady recovered, and after 
quarreling some over the matter, it was concluded 
that the Indians did not mean trouble longer, so 
many of the families made preparations to leave. 
After about two weeks of suspense, they went back 
to their homes. Major Williams, of the IT. S. Dra- 
goons, finally received orders to remove the Musqua- 
quas, and upon the appearance of a battalion of 
troops, the forest braves dropped their defiant man- 
ner, and peaceably withdrew, leaving the beautiful 
Iowa valley in this region to the plow and ax of the 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 25 

pioneer. Jolmny Green and his few followers are 
the only representatives of this fighting stock. Johnny 
has the rheumatism, and boiled dog, be it ever so 
savory, can never give fire to his blood again, or 
strength to his palsied arm. 

It is said by some after Logan told the Musquaquas 
that they were in the garrison for fear of the Sioux, 
they behaved more courteously, and showed the settlers 
how to make loop holes in the stockade for their 
guns. The Musquaquas certainly had more reason to 
fear their unforgiving enemies, the Sioux, than the 
peaceable whites, so that when Major Williams offered 
to make them presents, it was easy to make a negotia- 
tion, they believing that possibly there might be a 
coalition between the whites and Sioux. 

There was another Indian scare in the neighborhood 
over the river in 1854, but it amounted to nothing. 
About this time commenced the county seat war, 
which we have delineated under the head of Marshall- 
town and Marietta. Kext came the events connected 
with the Southern rebellion, which we have not space 
to particularize ; and in 1862 the whisky troubles 
arose, when a mob seized whisky that was in the 
hands of the sheriff, and emptied it on the ground. 
As the vile stuff was stored at Mr. Harvey Beckwith's, 
in Marshalltown, and his wife sick at the time, the 
excitement caused her a great deal of unnecessary 
suffering. Mr. Beck with, being a law and order man, 
was bound to protect the property in the absence of 
the sheriff, and the persons connected with the affair 
should have waited and acted with more care and 
discrimination, although if ever there is justification 
for a mob, it is in spilling the accursed stuff wherever 
found, and as soon as possible. In looking over the 
different townships the reader will learn of the partic- 
ulars connected with the history of Marshall county 
further. 



2l> IOWA. 



LE GEAND 

Township is the pioneer settlement of the county, 
Mr. Joseph Davison having come in 1847, and settled 
npon one of the hills east of the Iowa river, in a 
beautiful grove, which still bears his name. Here he 
lived in a little cabin with the Indians, without a 
white neighbor for fifty miles. His brother came a 
little later, Mr. William Davison, and in a short tim^e 
they both had good farms and supplied new comers 
witii the necessaries of life, before there were a half 
dozen families in Marshall to till the soil. 

This township has grove and open prairie and 
the Yerj best stone for building purposes and other 
uses, in the State. Davison being well aware of its 
advantages, alternately threatened and coaxed the 
Indians, until there were enough whites in the country 
to stand np in bold front and drive them from their 
hunting grounds. 

The Davisons were kind neighbors, but they re- 
moved to Oregon a few years ago "to find elbow 
room." Jostled there by brawny arms, they will 
probably turn up in Sitka with a pole bedstead and a 
wooden spoon, until civilization shall send them under 
the lee of the north pole. 

Mr. S. N. Knode came to Le Grand in February of 
1852, and finding a hut that had been used by a 
passing hunter, without door or chimney, or even a 
floor, moved his family soon after into this abode and 
began life in Iowa. For a few weeks, the smoke 
found its way out from the fire-place through the logs, 
(no " chinkin " to impede its progress,) and other 
families coming in, there were in this little cabin of 
sixteen feet square, thirty-six persons, counting the 
children, who found a home. 

The Allmans, Yoorhees, and Webbs, lived with 
them till they could prepare a home for themselves. 



MARSHALL COUNTY, 27 

And to add to this large family, travelers had to be 
entertained, and one night, four more were added to 
the original thirty-six, making it a matter of serious 
moment where to sandwich the crowd, so that each 
could have a puncheon for a bed. The " Judge " as 
he is familiarly called, once owned an immense tract 
of land, but through a relative, became involved, and 
was obliged to sell at a great sacrifice. As he is 
reported to be an heir to the famous Knode estate in 
Holland, we have no doubt that testy old Dame 
Fortune has a card yet in store for him. 

Messrs. Jehu and James Allman came here in the 
same spring, and had cabins built on the site of Le 
Grand village in the north part of town. They have 
been prominent men here, and done all they could to 
make this a business point. Mr. James Allman and 
M. Webb were the first to lay out Le Grand village in 
1852. Mr. Sanders of Iowa City, was called to survey 
out Lafayette, and on his homeward journey did a 
like service for the aforesaid, which occupies a very 
pleasant location south of the Iowa river. Had the 
Cedar Rapids Railroad Company done itself and the 
village justice, Le Grand would have been a for- 
midable rival to pretentious towns on the line ; but 
Blair's cupidity in attempting to plant a town two 
miles from nowhere, did not succeed, and a solitary 
hotel with a rickety old station-house which is a dis- 
grace to any corporation, is all that remains of Blair's 
embryo city. The Railroad Company must have been 
to much more expense in going around so far, that 
Le Grand might be left out in the cold ; and what is 
more aggravating, the citizens had petted them in every 
possible manner, entertaining their offieers and agents 
to the best in the town, and then gave them $12,000 
in subscriptions, which was coolly pocketed without 
a thankee, and the smoke of their locomotives wreathes 
around the hills two miles distant, when they could 
have had the depot within forty rods, with less cost. 



28 IOWA. 

and helped build up the town of their benefactors. 
It is said that prominent citizens of Marshalltown 
helped the nefarious scheme of John A. Blair, so as 
to kill off Le Grand, in revenge against those who 
voted for Marietta through the war. Mr. James All- 
man had the opinion that Le Grand would finally get 
a slice of Tama county and another from Grundy and 
Marshall, and become a county seat. Marietta being 
the farthest away, was less dangerous than Marshall- 
town, so he was quite inimical at times, against the 
latter place ; but finally "Cobtown," as her enemies 
called her, gave a decision in favor of Marshalltown, 
and was loyal thereafter, with the exception of thirteen 
voters. 

Among the early settlers we have already mentioned, 
was Mr. Eobert Yoorhees, who is still a citizen and an 
excellent man ; also, Mr. Rollin Richards came about 
the same time ; Mr. Ami Willets came a little later — 
is a Friend, and lives on the Davison farm. He is 
quite wealthy, and is well known for his charities, 
that are so characteristic of the beautiful religion of 
George Fox. Mr. Israel Willets is also an early set- 
tler, and living on a highly cultivated farm ; is wealthy, 
and much respected. Mr. Hiram Hammond came in 
1854, and has been connected with mills, in the stock 
and grain business, has a large dry goods store, and is 
one of those pleasant, quiet men, who would make 
friends anywhere. 

In 1853 there was a county election held at Griffith's 
mill in this township, where W. C. Smith was whig 
competitor against Griffith, democratic, for the office of 
county judge. There were twenty-two voters, and the 
result was in favor of Smith, although Griffith was so 
sure of election that he built a cabin at Marietta, with 
the expectation of occupying it. This was the first 
whig victory of the county. Mr. James Allman was the 
first postmaster, and in getting his commission, found 
this ambitious Mr. Griffith in the lists against him. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 29 

But Mr. A. was indorsed in Iowa City by democratic 
patronage, and he was appointed to the office. Mr. 
Griffith was so chagrined at this result and that of the 
other contest, that he sold out and left the country. 
Previous to this, there was no postoffice short of Ma- 
rengo, forty-live miles distant. 

Chesley Coppic, a distant relative of Coppic, the co- 
laborer of John Brown, was the first justice, and Dr. 
Young, since deceased, practicing physician. Riley 
McCool came here in 1856, and had quite a large 
stock of dry goods, but there came an unlucky fire and 
burned store and contents to the ground. Mr. McCool 
has been engaged since in the stock business, buying 
cattle for the Chicago markets, and handles a large 
amount of money; also, Hammond Brothers ship 
stock in large quantities to the same yards. 

RIGHTS. 

In the summer of 1856, a saloon was opened by 
some vile wretch, and after vending his wicked wares 
for a time, the ladies concluded to try force, to stop it, 
as pleasant words had been exhausted. A party of nine 
ladies entered the doggery and while some were en- 
gaged in knocking in the barrels with axes, etc., Mrs. 
Jack Wheitzell threw out brandy bottles, tumblers, 
etc., then taking the keeper by the nape of the neck 
sent him kiting out of the door after them. The 
whole concern was demolished, and it was the last one 
of the kind that ever lifted its braeen front in the 
village. Mrs. Hiram Hammond reports that she 
" made very awkward work in handling the ax on 
the barrel heads." They were all arrested, and taking 
venue, they were brought before Justice Yeamans of 
Marshalltown, who had them in court three days, but 
through some flaw in the indictment, they were released. 
The next day, Samuel Hoffman, the bachelor consta- 
ble, might be seen on the search for the immortal nine, 



80 IOWA. 

to bring them to justice yet again. Some had gone to 
Tama on a visit, others were out of sight, in the cellar 
and in the stables, and it is said, Hoffman swore it 
was the hardest day's work he ever did, trying to 
capture the girls. Finally, it fell through by default, 
and the women were victorious, upheld too, b}^ an 
overwhelming public sentiment. 

They have a Good Templars' lodge of one hundred 
members. The Friends have a pretty brick church, 
seventy by sixty feet, with two hundred names on its 
records, that subscribe to their self-denying principles. 
They were forward in assisting the freedmen, and give 
many beautiful examples of christian benevolence. 
They have several lady preachers among them ; we 
might mention Mrs. Julia McCool, a lady of many 
pleasant social qualities, as well as gifts of pulpit 
teaching. 

Mrs. Jonathan Keed, the President of the Soldiers 
Aid Society, who wrought many months unweariedly, 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
will receive further notice under the head of Green- 
castle. 

Mr. Ed. Lockwood, now of Marshaltown, and sheriff 
of the county in 1859, after a very spirited contest, 
once lived here. He and his worthy lady are too well 
known for us to add anything to their beautiful life 
record. 

A very excellent citizen of Le Grand is Mr. S. Good- 
rich, the owner of the magnificent stone quarry, which, 
for building ^^urposes, cannot be equaled in the State. 

LE GRAND INSTITUTE, 

That had the late much lamented Professor James 
Guthrie, from Antioch College, Ohio, as its presiding 
officer, is an honor to the village and county — has a 
fine brick structure forty by sixty feet, w^hicti will cost 
when finished, $10,000. Has a senior class of thirty- 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 81 

five, and will in time become of great benefit to 
Iowa. Le Grand has certainly made a good beginning, 
for, as far as it is finished, the building and furniture 
is of the most substantial character. 

It is under the immediate care of the Christians or 
New Lights, who are a peculiar people, having some 
singular ceremonies, yet, no doubt, do a great deal of 
good in the village. Any sect that helps to elevate 
humanity and lead man back to his Maker, should be 
encouraged. The}^ have a membership of, perhaps, 
one hundred and fifty, and exercise a great influence 
in this community. 

There is also a little Methodist Episcopal church 
under the pastoral care of Eevs. Ward and Hayman, 
that is increasing in numbers and influence. They 
talk of building a chapel this season, which consum- 
mation is most devoutly to be wished, as it will 
accommodate both church and sabbath school. 

PRESENT PROSPERITY. 

Le Grand contains about four hundred inhabitants, 
has splendid mills which we hear of in every direction, 
Kock Valley mills and Le Grand ; also three dry goods 
stores, Jehu Allman& Co., Hammond Bros., and John 
Mote & Co. It has, too, one hardware store, two drug, 
and one boot and shoe store, furniture shops, two 
hotels, two millinery shops, one grocery, and one 
large harness shop. The stores all do a good busi- 
ness ; Hammond & Brothers buying stock and grain 
to a large extent, and have the express agency also. 
Mr. J. W. Allman is postmaster, and in Dr. Whipple 
and Dr. Smith, the inhabitants have every confidence. 
There are several clergymen, and a Mrs. Samuel 
Coates, wife of a wealthy, prominent citizen, is also a 
powerful preacher of the Christian denomination. 

If the Kailroad Company will come to their senses, 
and build a depot at the McCool crossing, we shall 



32 IOWA. 

bespeak a promising future for this sprightly, enter- 
prising town. 

TIMBER CREEK, 

The next township by order of settlement, was 
named after the beautiful stream of water that courses 
through its whole domain, bestowing the immense 
advantages of never-failing water, forest, and a beauty 
of landscape rivaling the parks of old England — 
such lofty trees are here, as if set out by the hand of 
some cunning gardener. There are signs of coal along 
its bluffs, of great benefit to the county, if capital 
would but seek out the hidden treasures. 

Mr. J. M. Ferguson and Josiah Cooper settled on 
the south side of the grove in 184:8. Mr. Ferguson 
lived here a good many years, became quite wealthy, 
and removed to Albion. Mr. F. had the usual cabin, 
built without nails, stick chimney and dirt floor, for a 
time, as there were no settlements this side of Oska- 
loosa or Iowa City, and but three or four families on 
the route. 

His brother, George Ferguson, lived here some time, 
then removed to Le Grrand, where he owned one of the 
best farms in the State. His horses have been justly 
admired at our County Fairs, and he lately sold a 
premium stallion to Mr. Jerolman, of Eden, for nine 
hundred dollars. Mr. Ferguson has recently sold his 
farm to Judge Van Shaack, of New York, and lives 
near Marshalltown. 

Mr. William Asher lived here awhile, and built, in 
the corner of Le Grand township, the first grist mill 
in the county. It was a very rude affair and only 
cracked kernels of corn a little, and did not attempt 
flour. But this was much better than to crack it be- 
tween two stones about the size of a half bushel, then 
be obliged to eat the grit and dirt which necessarily 
came with the attrition process of the rude machine. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 33 

Mr. Asher was a very good man, but soon after this 
he froze his left foot, and amputation being necessary, 
he could not survive the shock and died in the 
operation. 

Carpenter Geer, another of the garrison at Fort 
Robinson, built the first saw mill in the county, and 
these enterprises fell into the hands of Mr. Griffith, 
who kept them operating for a time, but after turning 
his attention to politics, sold out to Mr. Brinnock 
and all went into the hands of Tsaacher Scholfield, 
afterwards the best mills in the State. 

John dampbell came to the northwestern part of the 
township in 1849, a young man from Linn county, 
and having pleasant memories of the place, gave the 
name also to Linn Creek. He had a good farm, ready 
to supply with provisions the citizens of Marshall- 
town, ere Anson had it scarcely christened. 

W. C. Smith, and his brother, Jackson Smith, came 
in March, ISttS. Mr. W. C. Smith was acting 
county clerk in early times, was j udge four years, and 
has been a teacher, of an excellent character, in Timber 
Creek. He has ecclesiastical license to preach m the 
Christian church, and fills the pulpit with great ability, 
we are told. As his history is identified with the 
county, we shall speak further of Judge Smith on 
another page. 

Mr. Jackson Smith has a splendid farm in this town- 
ship — was the first justice in the county, and married 
the first couple that ever placed their necks in the 
yoke matrimonial, within its limits. The names of 
the happy pair were Mr. Almerian Geer, son of Gar- 
])enter Geer, and Miss BaHard, daughter of Philip 
Ballard, of Iowa township. This was in the spring of 
1850, and Mr. Smith reports that it was one of the 
pleasantest times in the whole cycle of pioneer 
hilarity. They had a good sapper, danced, and joked 
the girls, tucked the bride into her snowy bed-drapery, 
and laughed at her discomfiture. 
4 



84 IOWA. 

Mr. Greenbury S. Balls, brother of "William Ealls, 
lived in Marshall near the edge of Timber Creek 
township. He bore severe privations bravely, and 
early filled many of the minor offices of this section 
with trust, and is in every way a kind neighbor and 
citizen. He now lives in Iowa township. 

Another one of the rank and file of Logan's men 
(who, by the way, was himself a Timber Creek citizen, 
and since deceased), was Mr. Eiley Majors, who lives 
very near the corner of Jefferson, having entered his 
claim of over two hundred acres. We believe he owned 
some lots in New Jefferson, a town that once was 
staked off on Jackson Smith's farm. There were 
several cabins built, and its lots were talked of once 
among land agents and real estate brokers in Marshall 
county. 

Mr. Henry Burke who lives on the old Eobinson 
claim, near the remains (if any) of the stockade fort, 
came here in 1853 from Southern Illinois. He raised 
a large family of sons and daughters ; his wife died 
some years since, very much sorrowed after by the 
relatives and neighbors. One of his daughters mar- 
ried Solomon Miller, Esq., of Marshalltown, who left 
a splendid army record, and is 'now one of the most 
prominent citizens of the city. He has literary talent, 
and would fill an important position in county 
affairs, if our people will remember the soldiers in 
future. 

Mr. Burke has one of the best cultivated farms in 
the county, over two hundred acres of growing crops, 
with a lovely fruit and waluut orchard back of his 
farm-house ; sheep, cattle, etc. ; and Mr. B. came here 
comparatively poor. He is brother-in-law to Mr. 
Powers, and also to Mr. Turner, once a citizen of this 
section, now in Missouri. 

Mr. Crowderand Mr. Meyers, now of Iowa township, 
w^ere neighbors on Timber creek, and the old settlers 
used to meet every week, and had parties, where all 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 35 

came, and eat pounded or cracked corn, with many a 
joke as to the power of each other's teeth in crushing 
the substitute for bread. 

At one time, Mr. Greer went to Jack Braddy's, a 
near neighbor, who lived seven or eight miles away, 
which was a mere hagatelle as to distance. Being a 
widower, he wished to pay his addresses to a young 
lady there. Taking Jack by the ear, he whispers very 
softly, "Do you think she will setf^^ meaning, 
that if she would set with him it was equivalent to an 
affirmative answer to his suit. 

They had a quilting at Mr. Eobinson's, the gen- 
tlemen being invited with the ladies ; the dinner- 
pot with its savory ham was boiled out of doors 
over a chunk hre ; guests, excepting the quilters, sat 
on the wood-pile and rude seats outside, so as to make 
room for those who wrought by the long ungainly 
frames. Corn-bread, good coffee, wild fruit, with the 
delicious ham, was the cuisine on the occasion. After 
supper came the height of enjoyment, to shake the 
quilt over the prettiest girl ; who blushed scarlet, and 
is now a happy wife, and mother of seven boys. 

The Sherwoods came in 1856, and have good farms, 
also Mr. Asahel Stone, near Washington, whose 
splendid dairy is so identified with his name that he 
is familiarly termed the " cheese man." He brought 
considerable capital from the East, and buying a large 
number of cows, started the enterprise of supplying 
Duchess County butter and cheese for Marshall. 
And it is quite equal to that noted brand in the 
Eastern market, and we commend others, who attempt 
to palm off their white oak imitations on the public, 
to visit his establishment and take lessons of the gen- 
tleman farmer, Asahel Stone. 

^Ir. Forey, the father-iu-law of the genial Dr. 
Rickey, of Marshalltown, is also a citizen of Timber 
Creek. He has lived here eight years, was loyal and 
true, when others were very conservative and wore 



36 IOWA. 

butternut emblems. His son, David Forey, served 
with bravery in the " old Thirteenth Iowa." 

Messrs. Owen, Blackburn, and Monahon, of Ken- 
tucky, came here quite recently, have good farms and 
also have made splendid improvements in the short 
time which they have been engaged in the work. 
Mrs. Monahan is a pleasant hostess and entertains the 
creme le creme of Marshalltown aristocracy with old 
fashioned Kentucky welcome. 

In the north edge of the township, lives Father 
Gourley, a member of the M. E. CImrch for many 
years, and a worthy disciple of Wesley he is, too. 
He came to Timber Creek in 185^, has a good farm 
under cultivation, and is able and wilhng to help all 
those in need. 

We close with a hasty mention of Mr. Hildebrand 
who was an early settler, Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Rogers, 
the energetic farmer living near the Marshall line, who 
has been here since 1857. He sent a brave boy to 
the Union Arni}^, who died there, without a comrade 
near him. 

This township is one of the best in the county, with 
good school houses, plenty of timber, mills, etc. 

MARIETTA 

Township is situated west of Marshall ; the Iowa river 
and the Little Minerva, with their tributaries, water 
its surface, and " the lay of the land " is very fine, 
especially in the southern part. In early times this 
township had the advantage of the county seat, had 
county roads centralizing at the village, and much of 
the western travel to the Plains passed through, giving 
a market to the surplus products of the soil. Common 
highways or turnpikes, used to be quite a help, but 
the towns in Iowa now build on the railroad lines, 
and the common roads crook around the fields to get 
to them. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 87 

Doctor Bush was the first settler in Marietta, near 
the corner of Iowa township on the Iowa river. This 
was in 1850. He practiced some, but hunted more, 
as there were only a half dozen families to take pills, 
and game was plenty. 

A Mr. Peterman was the next to swing an ax. He 
came the same year, and pounded corn for bread, 
drove off ravenous wolves from his door, and had 
quite a good supply of provisions to sell, after his 
farm was opened up to the new comers. He has re- 
moved from Marietta. 

Mr. William Dishon came from Oskaloosa in 1851, 
and soon after brought the first stock of goods into 
the county, settling near the river just north of the 
present town and commenced business, intending to 
lay out something of a village there, but others coming 
in, he was persuaded by Judge Hobbs to move into 
Marietta. He was the first village postmaster. Mah- 
lon Collins followed, with another stock of Yankee 
notions, and afterward was a prominent man in the 
county seat war as well as Mr. Dishon. 

There was a merchant by the name of Darlington 
who sold quite a large lot of goods on credit, whose 
daughter, Eudora, was the first white child born 
here. 

Quite a number of Hicksites and orthodox Quakers 
came into Marietta ; they were men of unflinching 
integrity and gave a high tone to public sentiment. 
Among these, was Doctor Hixon, who at least had 
some Quaker blood in his veins, and lived near the 
corner of Iowa township. He built the first mill on 
the Little Minerva. He will be remembered as repre- 
senting the county in the lower house of the Legisla- 
ture in 1S63-4. The doctor is a temperance man and 
has been in many a good work for the people's wel- 
fare. 

How bright the name of Lot Holmes shines on the 
Marietta record ! He was a native of Loudon county, 



38 IOWA. 

Va., but becoming early convinced of the sin of 
slavery, would not vote or live in tlie Old Dominion. 
He was connected with the Underground Eailroad in 
Salem, Ohio, and has always been in the conflict, 
taking stand with Garrison and Phillips of the old 
Anti-Slavery Guard. 

He and his noble wife have been among the first 
to organize societies for the help of the soldiers and 
freedmen. They have spent, with others, a good deal 
of time and money to get fugitives through from 
Missouri to the North Star. We mention, that he 
bought a wig at one time, in Chicago, for a black boy's 
disguise, paying fifteen dollars for it. Associated with 
him in all the benevolent enterprises of the day, was 
Mr. Stacey Nichols, also a Fi-iend, and like Mr. Holmes 
uses the plain language. 

Mr. William Marsh, living on the hill south of 
Marietta, a father-in-law of Mr. Abram Stanley, of 
Albion, is also an early settler, and the same sweet 
charities characterize him as they do others of that 
noble church, the Friends. Also Mr. Lackey, whose 
" Pink " knew how to use a shot-gun in the Marietta 
war ; and Mr. John Amos, who suffered with a terrible 
cancer many years. He was one of the early county 
commissioners, and he is remembered, by Mr. Henry 
Green and others, to have said in the above-mentioned 
war, " Let me to the front ; I have but a few months 
to live with this cancer, and I'll sell my life as dearly 
as possible among the rascals." 

Doctor Whealex came to Marietta in October, 1853, 
being the first physician, with the exception of some 
inebriated quack, who left that season. The summer 
and fall were quite unhealthy, many were discouraged, 
but the appearance of a good physician was hailed 
with delight. Doctor Whealen practiced all through 
Marshall and even into the adjoining counties ; on 
horseback, over sloughs without bridges, perhaps take 
a canoe and cross the Iowa at night ; and in the cabins 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 39 

of the poor emigrants, saw sights to make a sensitive 
man sick of the profession. The emigration was 
heavy that year, and the farmers in this section could 
not supply all who came, with provisions, and es- 
pecially milk and butter. The cows not being prop- 
erly cared for, it was impossible to obtain these 
necessaries. The doctor's fiimily had no milk or butter 
for months. Mrs. Whealen wrote to a friend in Ohio, 
that cows did not give milk in Iowa, for she had 
" tried all belonging to the neighbors and they were 
dry." 

The doctor made the most of their furniture^ 
three-legged stools, splint-bottomed chairs, a cradle 
made of a shoe box, and a dry goods box for a 
hea ufet What Iowa ho asekeeper of the early day knew 
not how to arrange this cupboard so as to get in all 
the dislies, with a corner for a bottle of hair oil and the 
fine tooth comb ! Mrs. Whealen managed to enter- 
tain twenty-two persons in her cabin for awhile, but 
at night the cradle, chairs, and table were set out of 
doors to be occupied by ghosts of departed Musqua- 
quas — covering the entire floor with beds, sometimes 
pinning overcoats and dresses together for a partition 
to shade the young girls' sweet faces. She, that 
ruled her spirit, was greater than one who takes a city, 
in such times. 

Mr. Delos Arnold taught the first school in the 
old court house, and his neighbors remember the 
epoch by his writing letters for the Eastern papers in 
the rookery. 

Alexander Crow kept the first hotel, dividing the 
honors of Boniface with A. L. Hall, now of Marshall- 
town, and a Mr. Shively. 

The Williams family came about this time, perhaps 
some later, with small means, but now, as a family, 
have as much influence and what is called " position," 
as any in the county. Four daughters and two sons — 
the mother may well be proud of their success in life. 



40 IOWA. 

Doctor Waters, also, was well liked in Marietta, hav- 
ing a large and kicrative practice. Mr. James Geitzey 
started a cabinet shop, some years after, thus dis- 
placing the rustic furniture of the above-mentioned 
patentee, Dr. Whealen. He now lives in Marshall- 
town. W. C. Smith, also Mr. Woodward, and other 
officers, came here to live after the county seat was 
located. 

Through the township there were a few families 
scattered about, trying to live in their little cabins. 
A Mr. Braddock, east of the present village of Ma- 
rietta, who now has a beautiful house, was one of 
these. Also Mr. Coddington, Mr. Kimberly, and 
others. 

Mr. D. Moninger, a citizen here, pays the heaviest 
tax of any man in the county. 

The commissioners from the Iowa Legislature ap- 
pointed in 1850-1, traveled over Marshall in every 
direction to locate the county-seat, and after passing 
some very eligible points, selected 

MARIETTA, 

Which is situated nearly in the geographical center of 
the county, about one-half mile from the Iowa river, 
and six miles north-east from Marshalltown. The 
town site was surveyed by Messrs. Hobbsand Dawson, 
October 11, 1851, and the capital located there without 
demur, except from, Anson. Afterwards an addition 
was made to the corporation by Messrs. Boardman and 
Leaming. It is built on bottom land, with heavy 
timber north, and bluffs southward, and except in very 
wet weather, the town presents a pleasing appearance, 
and had it not been for some natural advantages of 
Marshalltown, and the obstinate pertinacity of some 
of its citizens. Marietta, like Marengo, might have 
been a county seat, and quite a city, after all. Its lots 
at one time brought a good figure, and many an owner 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 41 

of its corners, deplored the " war," as a losing thing 
for investments, especially if he was speculating upon 
borrowed capital, as many did before the crash of 
1857. 

The contest commenced about the year 1853 be- 
tween the rival towns, and every artifice and device was 
used on both sides to control votes, so as to gain the 
desired end. The most bitter hatred was engendered 
for a time, and the most insulting invectives were in- 
dulged in without measure. As a specimen of the 
ridicule used to control public sentiment, we quote 
from the files of the Iowa Central Journal, the organ 
for Marshalltown : " A Frenchman lately from Paris, 
is negotiating for the purchase of the public square 
in Marietta to raise frogs for that market ! " It may 
be, some believed the romance. 

On another occasion, a gentleman by the name of 
Crookham, an extensive property holder in Marietta, 
was down to Marshalltown on business ; it was arrang- 
ed by a few of the sharp ones of the latter place, to 
badger the poor man a little, so calling some stranger 
(to Crookham) among a group of themselves, with a 
great deal of horror and uplifted hands, they told him, 
in his hearing, that a man was actually drowned in 
the public square of Marietta only the week before ! 
Nothing could equal the representative's rage at such 
abominable falsehoods of his much-abused town, and 
he went home swearing about Marshalltown, where 
they told such awful whoppers. 

The organ for Marietta was known among the news- 
papers as The Marietta Express. It was published 
by T. High and A. J. Kenney. It had no reputed 
editor at first, althongh its leaders were supposed to 
have been written by Hon. H. E. J. Boardman. At 
this time in the history of our county, if report was 
true, he wielded a powerful pen against the claims of 
Marshalltown to public favor. The Express accused 
its citizens of bribery, fraud, and other evil things, 



42 IOWA. 

and alludes to the Iowa Central as a " smut machine^'^ 
a " dried up pump," etc. These things called out a 
rejoinder from the aforesaid, and so the contest went 
on, till finally this newspaper war began to be very 
sensibly shown in public sentiment. 

Besides Marshalltown, Marietta had a rival in La- 
fayette, now called Albion, and in this triangular fight, 
the Marietta Express had to keep its eyes well open 
to watch all the corners. Albion conld not hope to 
have the county-seat, but by killing off" Marietta, she 
might build up her rival, and in course of time would 
get a sop for herself, of some public institution, the 
High School, or some seminary of learning. The 
Marietta Express fought bravely and well, but when 
the county seat was removed to Marshalltown, it was 
obliged to succumb, and died an honorable death. 

But we will go back to a period earlier than the 
Express, — when Mr. Woodward was treasurer of the 
county, and the business so light that he carried the 
blank receipts in his hat. Mr. Weatherly relates, 
that his tax receipt ran in this style : " This certifies 
that W. Weatherly has paid his taxes for the year 
of 1852," without saying anj^thing about the property, 
etc. We think it would puzzle Mr. Grerhart to carry 
on business in this feshion. 

After Judge Hobbs' term of ofiice had expired, 
there must necessarily be a new election. Mr. W. C. 
Smith failing to get his bonds in some manner, correct, 
after a successful canvass. Esquire Atwater, being 
prosecuting attorney, was de facio judge, and wishing 
to retain the judicial mantle, was opposed to Mr. 
Smith's holding the office, and ordered another elec- 
tion. The Marshalltown interest supported Mr. 
Thomas Griffith, and Marietta, to burlesque the whole 
affair, supported a Mrs. Durbin. The result was, on 
the official count, that the lady had five majority ! 
Le premier victorie! for woman's rights. She was 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 43 

bought off with the present of a new dress, and Judge 
Smith appointed in her stead. To this last item we 
affix the date of 1853. 

Speaking of judges, reminds us of a little scene 
that occurred here while McFarland was on the bench. 
A 3'oung lawyer from Burlington by the name of 
Wood, was facetiously termed by the profession, 
" Old Timber." At this court he was in the midst of 
a fine rhetorical display in submitting his case to the 
jury, whsn the head of an immense donkey thrust 
itself through the window and interrupted the eloquent 
lawyer with an outrageous braying. McFarland cries 
out, " Hold up. Old Timber, this honorable court can- 
not entertain both of your opinions on this question 
at the same time ! " Nothing could equal the intense 
satisfaction of court, lawyers and audience, with the 
exception of Mr. Wood, who was terribly chagrined, 
and to crown all, lost his case. 

Another swing of memory's bells and we hear of 
the Grand Coop of the Oriental Order of Bachelors, 
who assembled sometimes in an office, occasionally in 
a kitchen. A Mr. McKye was Chief Mogul, Jeiferson 
Crookham, Thomas Mercer, Mr. Plug, Mr. Willow, 
and we have no doubt, Mr. D. L. Arnold, were 
members. It seemed they were a jolly set of fellows, 
but lacked success among the ladies through timidity. 
The affair was so ridiculous in a Western community, 
that the Marietta girls took pity on the whole caboose 
and married them, in due time. The HiMi Moa^ul was 
the first to succumb, and made a very good husband 
in spite of the bad discipline in the Coop. 

Marietta had a Literary Society whose wits weekly 
shone like stars, in the old court house. Many ques- 
tions were discussed, essays read, and all served to 
keep the little village from stagnation. One evening, 
an infidel sentiment was promulgated by a lady, but 
the pitiful atheist was soon consigned to disgrace. 
There were quite a number of these weak persons in 



44 IOWA. 

the neigliborhood, but happily they have seen their 
folly, and there is now scarcely one to be found. 

About this time, in the winter of 1855-6, there was 
quite an excitement about the Fulton Air Line Eail- 
road that was to make Marietta a point on its route to 
the Missouri. The count^'^-seat war was still carried 
on, and notwithstanding the cloud that arose in the 
eastern horizon over Marsh alltown, not bigger than 
a man's hand, everything went merry as a marriage- 
bell. The town received quite an accession to its 
population in the year 1856, as did the State generalh^, 
and there was a good deal of business done in land 
agencies. 

One of the most successful lawyers at the time, 
was Hon. H. E. J. Boakdman, who was always ready 
to work for the interest of Marietta. Hon. D. L. 
Arnold was also practicing law, and in the real estate 
business. 

Everything was done to control the election that 
was to come off in April of this year, and upon 
the trial, it went in favor of Marietta. The citizens 
quietly took a nap over this, thinking this was a 
quietus, but their vigilant foe was stealing the hearts 
of the people b}^ many devices. One potent reason 
given against Marietta was, that the Fulton Railroad 
would never be built, and that Marietta might always 
remain in the swamp without an outlet, excepting the 
Iowa river ; but letters were published and all assur- 
ances made, that the railroad would be built. Beside 
presents that were freely distributed by Marshalltown 
to control votes, the Town Hall was finished and ready 
for the occupancy of the District Court — and no taxa- 
tion. This, in the hard times of 1857-8, had influence 
on the farmers of the count}^ Marshalltown had an 
accession of energy and capital as well as Marietta, 
and her pertinacious, prominent men were determined 
on making it the county seat. A solemn pledge was 
made, that as long as life lasted there should never 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 45 

be any giving np of the contest, and that they would 
not tolerate a traitor in the midst of Marshalltown, or 
allow any one inimical to their interests to hold any 
office there. 

With these drawbacks, when Marietta came into 
the field at the spring election of 1858, victory 
perched upon the banners of her rival. When the 
reports came in, Wells Eice and a few others went up 
to Marietta to feel of her pulse. There was no excite- 
ment and they seemed to take it coolly. It soon be- 
came apparent that they, likewise, had written upon 
their escutcheon, nil desperandum. Knowing, that in 
a new community there always is some informalit}^, 
she was ready to throw out the votes of Marion, 
Le Grrand and Greencastle. Their returns were not 
dated, neither were they certified to by the proper 
officers ; so that legitimately she had a right to contest 
the election on the letter of the law, though she was 
well aware that the majority was now in favor of her 
antagonist. Judge Smith declared in favor of Mari- 
etta, or rather the board of county canvassers had 
so decided previous to his action. An alternative 
writ of mandamus was then issued by order of the 
District Court, Judge Thompson presiding, on the first 
day of the April term, commanding the county judge 
to take to his assistance two justices of the county, 
re-canvass the returns, including the three rejected 
townships, and declare the result accordingly, or show 
cause why he should not do so, on or before the third 
day of the term. The counsel for Marietta was the 
Hon. Enoch Eastman. 

Judge Smith filed exceptions, and refusing to an- 
swer or re-canvass, another writ was issued against 
him, peremptorily ordering him to re-canvass, but this 
he disobeyed, and appealed to the Supreme Court, 
where it was argued at the June term, 1858. In the 
following December term of the Supreme Court the 
case came up again. William Penn Clark, of Iowa 



46 IOWA. 

City, counsel for Marslialltown, and Hon. C. C. Cole 
for Marietta, and the judgment of the District Court 
was affirmed. In the early jDart of Januarj^, 1859, 
the clerk of the Supreme Court issued a peremptory 
writ of mandamus ordering Judge Smith, with the 
other officers of the board of canvassers, to re-canvass. 
The justices, thinking of the money invested in Ma- 
rietta, thinking of their homes and ambitions, decided 
against counting in the rejected townships, but Judge 
Smith, under advice of shrewd council from Desmoines, 
declared in favor of them ; for the law plainly saj^s 
that there shall be no disfranchisement, except in cases 
of fraud. But the decision of a majority of the jurat 
was in favor of Marietta, and it was thus rendered. 
Meantime, under certain representations, a writ of in- 
junction was procured from Judge Thompson, restrain- 
ing the county judge from removing the records from 
Marietta, this. writ being held in reserve. These pro- 
ceedings so exasperated the people of Marshalltown, 
that they filed information against Judge Smith and 
Justices Turner and Wallahan for dereliction of duty, 
and they were brought down to Marshalltown for trial 
before Justice Yeaman. On a writ of habeas corpus 
being issued by the county clerk, J. L. Williams act- 
ing as judge, Messrs. Turner and Wallalian were re- 
leased, but Judge Smith was still held in durance vile. 
William T. Hepburn was prosecuting attorney in the 
case, H. C. Henderson, assistant counsel, and H. E. J. 
Boardman for the defense. 

Pending this trial there was a great deal of excite- 
ment at Marshalltown, and the last evening of the 
proceedings, in a speech made by Boardman, he inti- 
mated that Henderson had told an untruth. Of course 
this exasperated the counsel to fever heat ; he drew 
up to Boardman, cane in hand, demanding a retraction. 
There were a few Marietta men in the room, who 
rather huddled together about their champion. Some 
one at the door cried out, " Blow out the lights, Lynch 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 47 

the Marietta rascals ! " Some of the candles disap- 
peared, but there were enough left to show Boardman 
in the tableaux, pale, yet cool as a cucumber, and 
waving his right hand with a tragic look that Forrest 
might wear in Coriolanus — " Gentlemen, you can im- 
pose upon Marietta and her rights now, but you will 
feel different when the cold steel of a hundred bay- 
onets is running through your hearts." This hifalu- 
tin and his coolness, seemed to have some effect, for 
Henderson left the room in a few minutes, and the 
crowd below stairs began to cry out for Judge Smith. 
Frightened, as perhaps hundreds of others might 
have been, already badgered by months of anxiety 
with the most ferocious of the Marietta men, (for this 
excitement had got beyond the control of all peaceable 
persons,) Judge Smith, as a Mason, demanded the pro- 
tection of the craft, in the persons of Mr. Woodbury 
and Dr. Glick. They escorted him through the crowd 
and he went first to Mr. Woodbury's, when he ex- 
pressed a wish to go to his father's. They accompanied 
liim there and left him with no person about the house 
but the family. In the course of the night, Mr. Bab- 
cock, the Methodist clergyman, went to Marietta for 
Mrs. Smith, taking Mr. Woodbury's carriage, but she 
refused to come, influenced by the Marietta ladies. 
At the house there, Mr. Babcock was made to fall 
]n to a trap through a hole in the floor, Avith an oil- 
cloth cover carefully placed over it. But he came 
back to Marshal Itown about three o'clock in the morn- 
ing, and, calling on Judge Smith, reported matters un- 
successful in that direction. Mr. B. then advised Judge 
Smith to go home with him and take some rest, as he 
seemed so fatigued with watching, intimating there 
were persons in the yard. It is said that Marietta had 
men watching him to see that he did no mischief to 
her interests ; as well as Marshalftown had a guard 
at the bridge. It is impossible to know how many, 
if any, irresponsible persons were in the vicinity. Mr. 



48 IOWA. 

Woodbury and Dr. Glick both say, that none was sent 
from headquarters. 

It is said by a responsible man, that when Judge 
Smith declared he would not issue a proclamation for 
a special election in favor of giving Albion the swamp 
lands without a petition from two-thirds of the voters, 
that he was surrounded by leading men from Marietta 
and told that he must do it, or he would be sorry, etc. 
Cowed down, the Judge burst into tears and said he 
would sell his house and lot for half price and leave 
Marietta. 

We only give facts, and do not say that Marietta 
had a man on the ground. He was no doubt consci- 
entious in all his acts, his enemies cannot say he re- 
ceived a bribe, but he was too easily intimidated. 
A copperhead on Timber Creek, once frightened him 
in a terrible manner with words. 

About seven o'clock, on the morning of the eleventh 
of January, 1859, Judge Smith is found in a chamber 
at Mr. Babcock's, with a sheet of paper before him with 
the county seal, or rather an impression, upon it, and 
several prominent men of Marshalltown as witnesses 
to a re-canvass of the vote upon the county seat, and 
an order for the removal of the records. Juds^e Smiih, 
astonished to find the county seal, issued an order, 
although J. L. Williams, acting as county judge, would 
have been the proper officer. Judge Smith after sign- 
ing this order, was released informally, we believe. 
It was reported that Mr. Woodbury obtained the im- 
pression in the following manner : Being at the court 
house in Marietta to convey a deed to some person, he 
asked the judge if he could have a sheet of paper. 
Upon its presentation, while the judge was busii}' en- 
gaged, he carelessly let the county seal fall upon the 
paper, then folding it up with others, it was ready for 
use when the proper time came, and was presented to 
Judge Smith. 

Another little piece oi finesse we notice, to show 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 49 

the care that was used lest there should be an advantage 
gained by Marietta. When the returns were made out 
from Marshall township, the signing of the jurat was 
neglected by the proper officers, at the spring election 
of 1858. A few found this out, and with a secret 
pledge that it should not be divulged, they proceeded 
to rectify the mistake. Old Mr. Kice and Father 
Dunton started off in the night, and going to Judge 
Smith got the poll-book and brought it back to Mar- 
shalltown and made it correct, without the knowledge 
of another person in Marietta. 

This is no hap-hazard revelation, and could it have 
been found out by Marietta, a day or two later, it 
would have made Marshall as famous for mistakes as 
the rejected three townships from the east side. 

After Judge Smith had given the order to remove 
the records from Marietta, messengers were sent 
in every direction, to the friends of Marshalltown. 
For several nights the Town Hall in that place had 
been watched by zealous citizens for fear that some 
incendiary from the rival village might reduce tlie 
hard earned structure to ashes. The whole town was 
on the alert, and as the morning dawned cold and 
frosty, it ushered in the memorable day of the eleventh 
of January, 1859, and the 

MARIETTA BATTLE. 

Sheriff Harris ordered out the Bo wen Guards, a 
militia company whose prowess had extended over 
land and sea, as a posse comitatus^ to take, have, and to 
hold the capital of Marshall county. Their leader 
buckled on a sword that had never been wet in human 
gore, the men made hurried preparations for the attack, 
and every warlike weapon which could be found in 
the village was hunted up and scoured by the best of 
cotton rags and elbow grease, beside their own regular 
arms. 

5 



50 IOWA. 

Early in the morning, wagons came into town filled 
with armed men, orderiies were flying about carrying 
despatches, and everything denoted " war to the knife." 
Messrs, Boardman and Turner started out before the 
Guards were quite ready, and stopped at Mr. Joseph 
Allen's, but were delayed by their carriage breaking 
down — the tire coming off. But whipping up, they 
concluded to go on without any tire, and in danger of 
going into general bankruptcy of wheel and buggy, 
they rushed into Marietta to make preparations for 
defense. But we will glance backward to the irate 
town on Linn Creek. 

Sheriff L. L. Harris is making himself very con- 
spicuous in going through military exercises, and we 
will insert his order, for he denied ever giving any 
to Captain Shurtz, when he feared damages from Mari- 
etta people, as rumored. The order ran thus : 

Marshall, Jan. 11, 1859. 
Capt. E. Shurtz, Esq. : 

Sir — You are hereby commanded to summon your 
Company to be and appear before the Court House in 
Marietta, in Mai'shall county, Iowa, armed and equipped 
as by law required, forthwith — and by no means what- 
soever harm or molest any one w^ithout my orders. 
Hereof fail not, under the pains and penalties of the 
laws of the State of Iowa. 

You are further commanded to strictly forbid any 
loose talk or swearing, or even threats from any one of 
your Company. L. L. Harris, 

Sheriff Marshall County, Iowa. 

Herein lay the delegated powers of the Bowen 
Guards, et literatim. 

There was a large corps of observation ready early, 
consisting of young men and boys. There was Brig. 
Gen. Kelly, Anson, and Hambel, who assisted in 
getting things arranged ; Cliaplain Babcock was bustling 
about with liis white cravat, and making w^onderful 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 51 

calculations as to the number of the wounded to be 
taken care of through the day. Judge Smith paced 
the upper chamber of the parson's house, fearful of the 
result as to taking the citadel by storm, after counsel- 
ing soft words ; while Ferguson, of Timber Creek, 
told stories of Indian wars among the Pottawatomies. 
Women had prepared breakfast with trembling hands, 
and partaken of it with tearful eyes and agonizing 
thoughts, fearing that ere set of sun, their loved ones 
might return mangled corpses or maimed for life. 
The excitement had spread all over the county, one 
orderly, Mr. C. Davis, having rode a great share of the 
night to rouse the Marshalltown army to immediate 
action. It is supposed there were eight or nine 
hundred men on the ground, either as combatants or 
spectators of the bloody fray. 

The Marietta army was commanded by L, L. Weath- 
erly, ex-sherifip, one of the best natured men in the 
world, and to see him now-a-days, one would not sus- 
pect him of belligerent propensities enough to kill a 
chicken. And so with the whole army, peaceable 
farmers and mechanics, all, but believing they were 
upholding the rights of the majority in the Marshall- 
town posse ; while the Marietta soldiers fancied they 
were defending their Court House from thieves and 
robbers. 

The Bow en Guards had sent by S. Curkhuff, to Fort 
Dodge and obtained arms, and being drilled, with 
Elliot Shurtz as captain, George Hampton as first lieu- 
tenant, and Wells Eice as second lieutenant, the whole 
company with their escort, cavalry and outriders, 
might be seen on the move about eight o'clock passing 
out of Main street, every door and window filled with 
sobbing women and children ; there being no commis- 
sary or baggage for officere, and no artillery, the mili- 
tary pageant soon disappeared beyant the Western 
hills. 

About ten o'clock, Mr. Gibson, another orderly, some 



52 IOWA. 

say as a Marietta detective, returned upon a handsome 
charger riding at a furious rate, when a score of voices 
yelled out, " Has any one been killed ? " He shook 
his head mysteriously, and reported something to head- 
quarters, commanded by Major-Generals Woodbury 
and Henderson. After talking around town awhile, he 
mounted his horse and rode rapidly down the Marietta 
road to the scene of the engagement. 

We will now follow the Bowen Guards. They had 
no martial music ; some whistled to keep their courage 
up, others sang Yankee Doodle and told hunting 
yarns, while a few, like Pat. kept up a " divil of a 
thinkin'." 

In the meantime, Mr. Greener who had spent a little 
time at the Marshall House, found out there was a 
raid in progress, and sometime in the night mounted his 
pony and went on to Marietta to give the intelligence. 
Orderlies were sent in every direction, and every man 
capable of bearing arms in Liberty and Minerva 
townships was on hand sometime in the forenoon. 
A keg of powder was bought at some of the little 
stores up the Iowa river, by the contribution of 
many citizens of Marietta, and placed under the safe 
of the Court House, with a train and slow match 
ready to blow the raiders into atoms. Patterson, 
of Patterson's grove in Minerva, was high in com- 
mand, having been in the Mexican war, but ex-sheriff 
Weatherly was chief, and he gave orders that strict 
discipline should be kept through the attack. After 
locking the Court House, many stood on the steps 
awaiting the onset ; many of the windows were filled 
with armed men, and even on the roofs of some 
of the houses might be seen belligerents ready for the 
fight. 

The army of invasion had been preceded by a force 
of cavalry skirmishers that made their appearance about 
four o'clock in the morning, under the lead of Mr. 
William Bremner, we believe. Mrs. Boardman had a 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 53 

gun on her shoulder, and one of the company, " Kim " 
Cleaver, getting defiant, she intimated that if he said 
any more she would shoot him. 

Other Marietta ladies were equally warlike, and the 
excitement deepened in intensity. J. Crookham, 
the bachelor lawyer, made his will before the justice, 
and then stood trembling near the Shively House, 
awaiting the attack. Mr. Dishon and Quincy Black 
were on hand, with pistols at home, to defend their 
firesides, for the threat had gone forth if the records 
were not given up, " the town would be reduced to 
ashes." Mr. Woodbury and Mr. Henderson had no 
idea of this, nor Mr Rice, Anson or Doctor Glick — 
their intention was to intimidate. But Scott and his 
gang of irresponsible men, taking advantage of this, 
were no doubt intending mischief And many too, 
allowed their feelings to get the better of their judg- 
ment, so that the result was, a desperate, murderous- 
looking set of men entered Marietta, determined on 
having the records, or burn, murder and destroy. 

Many of the young boys of the village had rifles, 
some had hatchets and axes, and we give the comic 
side also ; a man by the name of Daly, was seen 
armed with a sausage-stufifer squirting muddy water 
at the invaders. 

Harris came in first, with a few men as body guard, 
and presented his order very courteously to Mr. 
Weatherly, who refused, of course, to give up his 
trust. Wagon after wagon followed, filled with armed 
men, who dismounting walked around the streets 
looking fight, if nothing more. The Bowen Guards 
had halted near town till about twelve o'clock, and 
being hungry became anxious to fight or go home. 
Harris was to come back and tell them when to ad- 
vance, but he was cowardly and vascillating, so that 
no order ever came to Captain Shurtz to move forward. 
At last the Captain thought best to go on and see what 
was doing in tiie beleaguered city ; and the historic 



5tt IOWA. 

page of war was made brighter by tbe advance of the 
Bowen Gruards to the Public Square. They were 
forty as brave men as ever carried muskets, in appear- 
ance. 

The women and children flouted and jeered at 
the poor Guards from the windows, some threw de- 
cayed eggs and vegetables, fragments of brick and 
stone ; and the contents of a huge wash-bowl fell upon 
the head of a devoted citizen of Albion, Hon. T. 
Brown, who was sandwiched among the soldiers. 

THE ONSET. 

Harris then commenced bustling about, and drawing 
up a number of wagons for breastworks, told Captain 
Shurtz to bring his men into line behind them. 
Among them were Messrs. Taft, Hepburn, Kelly, and 
other prominent citizens of Marshalltown. Slowly 
the Guards advanced, with ofiicers Shurtz and Kice 
in front. The Marietta men cocked their rifles, and 
when within about sixteen feet of each other, there 
was not a sound to be heard but a click of guns. 
Hepburn looked at the right, at the left, and seeing the 
Guards flanked on every side, knowing that not ten 
feet off stood an enemy with his hand on the trigger, 
who had an old grudge to settle, he became suddenly 
aware of the fearful consequences, and calling out to 
Weatherly, " For God's sake, don't shoot ! " threw up 
the sponge. 

Mr. Sylvanus Eice, a moment before, had narrowly 
escaped trepanning from a cane being thrown at his 
head, and Mr. Aleck Crow was about to slip the 
mortal coil of a Guard, when Sam. Hoffman advanced 
a little from the line and drew a bead, saying, " I'll 
make a luhiie Crow of you, sir, if you are not 
careful." 

The crisis was ready to burst its rain of blood upon 
these deluded men of Marshall county, when Boardman 



MAKSHALL COUNTY. 65 

advanced a step or two, and in aloud, clear voice, with 
his inevitable imperturbation, read the injunction from 
Judge Thompson, restraining all action of removing 
the records ; and with a higher authority than sheriff or 
guard, dispersed the crowd with a henedicite unlooked 
for, and w^hich was really welcome to some, no doubt. 
The Bowen Guards slipped rather precipitately from 
the cul-de-sac in front of the Court House ; and some 
sw^earing and loud talking being heard in another 
direction, the swaying crowd thinned out in this 
place. 

Scott with his gang, had tried to set a building on 
fire with bundles of hay, but fortunately did not 
succeed, and one of the Guards in watching this 
movement, and thinking he might assist, jumped over 
a yard fence and tore his drapery in a vexatious man- 
ner, the only ahattis the Guards found. 

Captain Shurtz now ordered his men to " fall in," 
and the militia were soon en route for Marshalltown — 
Harris not to be found. One valiant Marietta man now 
emerged from behind a pile of rails, another took his 
gun from the window, where he had been watching 
the fight, a half mile distant. One Guard came into 
the ranks, who had the stomach-ache fearfully, through 
the onset ; another had to light his pipe — " be back in 
a minute," but his minutes lengthened into hours. 
But the most were real belligerents, for in the defense 
of the old flag, men from the " Swamp Kingdom " and 
"Anson's potato patch," gave their lives freely, and 
were buried together on Southern soil. 

Had there been a chance shot, and it is a great wonder 
that among so many boys, none fired ; had Harris in 
the first flurry, rushed his men into the Court House 
and commenced breaking locks, there is no telling 
what horrors might have been committed. There is 
no mistaking this, and Providence certainly must have 
watched over these half crazed men. 

Outsiders began to talk over the injunction and com- 



66 IOWA. 

pare notes, some swearing at the judge for spoiling 
the fight ; they finally followed the action of the Guards, 
mounted their horses, filled the wagons, and drove 
away. At sunset, the contest was fairly over, no one 
hurt, and Marietta was the county seat in spite of 
guard or musket, wearing her diadem with undimin- 
ished lustre ; she was every whit the queen of the 
Iowa valley as before, without sending a single hero 
to the shades of Yalhalla. 

THE RETREAT. 

The Guards on their return, with cavalry, pickets 
and signal corps in a Bull Run confusion, met, about 
half way from Marshalltown, Judge Smith and Mr. 
Woodbury, going to Marietta. The judge made a 
speech, saying that he had done what he thought was 
right, of his own free will, and was glad things were 
as well off as they seemed. 

We will not attempt to describe the thoughts of the 
stalwart army as they approached the gates of Mar- 
shalltown, for -here the tragedy ends in a farce. The 
Guards had marched up more than " one hill then 
down again," had come home victorless and no scalps. 
No county records, no ashes of Marietta buildings, 
not a scratch or smell of gunpowder, but awful tired 
and hungry. " Where is your dead ? " " Where was 
you in the fight? " These questions assailed the poor 
Guards on every side. 

Messengers had been coming into town through the 
day, but still there would be false reports. Among 
them was one, that Wells Rice was killed, which of 
course had made his family nearly frantic. Although 
he was foremost in the fray, he had returned safe and 
sound. 

Another messenger had reported the streets of Ma- 
rietta were running with blood. Naturally these 
rumors had suspended all business; the ladies had 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 57 

walked about from one house to another, trjdng to 
find some consolation in each other's courage, so that 
when the doughty army came home safe, the rebound 
from such a dismal strain was wonderful. Wives 
joked at the expense of their husbands, tea was got, 
and the meal ended under happier auspices than ever 
before in their households. 

We have heard many ladies say, that going to the 
battle-fields of the South, was nothing so gloomy as that 
dreadful day at Marietta. They felt not the loss of 
the county seat, or of its prospective advantages at 
the evening's close, so the loved ones were at home 
safe. 

Several quarrels came off collaterally, but as far as 
open fighting went, this was the last of the Marshall- 
town army. 

It was thought the next morning in Marietta, that 
the raiders might return, and every precaution .was 
used to guard the public property, but the plumes of 
the Marshalltown cavaliers were not seen, for it was 
believed that the injunction restrained all further 
action, and they were, after all, in favor of law and 
order. 

But more was had of the pen than of the sword. 
The lawyers were busy, and at the April term of the 
District Court, following, the mandamus case came up 
again. There was a long trial on the injunction, and 
an attachment was issued against Judge Smith for con- 
tempt, but he appealed to the Supreme Court, which 
decided against him. At this District Court, Marietta 
had a band of men pledged to secrecy, and under 
promise to slay and destroy, if Marshalltown attempted 
to take the safe from the Court House, even if decided 
in her favor. 

Previous to this, on the 18th of January, Judge 

Smith issued bonds to William Dishon on a contract 

to build a Court House, and to the tune of $26,000. 

Mr. Dishon went to New York and sold the bonds for 

6 



58 IOWA. 

goods instead of building, and this mercantile trans- 
action cost the county $8,000 to release the bonds. 
The bond-holder offered by his agent, to Mr. C. B. 
Rhodes, of Edenville, five hundred dollars if he would 
use his influence to bring them to a par value through 
action of the board of supervisors, though there had 
been an injunction issued against the sale of them. 
Judge Smith expected, at the time, that Mr. Dishon 
would do what was right, we have no doubt, but he 
was not careful enough in placing himself in the hands 
of designing men. 

We know that Marietta was fighting for her homes 
and that the citizens of Marshalltown did many things 
illegal to gain her ends, but there was a majority in 
her favor. The fault seemed to be. Marietta could not 
nor would not see it. This action was copied by Eldora. 
A little town in Hardin county had a majority of three 
over her, yet she would not, and never did, deliver up 
the records, and for her pertinacity is down on the maps 
to-day as the capital of that county. 

The injunction case came up again at the June terra 
of the Supreme Court, and the December term also, 
when the whole case was reviewed and argued, and 
finally a decision was given in favor of Marshalltown, 
which ended the whole controversy. 

There is another reminiscence of this war which 
we cull from the past. Mr. James Hambel, in an 
angry dispute with Mr. Gibson, told the latter, that 
he had " an eye for looking up a rope." This the 
gentleman took as a threat, and forthwith procured a 
warrant for the arrest of Mr. H. Mr. Wimberly, the 
deputy sheriff, being from Marietta was not personally 
acquainted with the culprit, and on coming up to the 
court house in Marshalltown, inquired of Hepburn 
where he lived. Shurtz standing by, knowing the 
danger of Hambel, winked to Hepburn to keep Wim- 
berly busy, then scudding around the building, has- 
tened down to Hambel's to hide him. At last Wim- 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 59 

berly got impatient, and asked again where the rascal 
could be found. The polite lawyer pointed out a 
man chopping wood in the yard as if for dear life. 
"That's him," said he. 

Wimberly rode up to the house, dismounted, and 
commenced reading the summons to a man in a green 
coat and plug hat. After hemming and hawing and 
looking at the papers, causing as much delay as possi- 
ble, Shurtz suddenly looked towards the public square 
and said in a sly way, " I guess you are mistaken in 
the man, Mr. Hambel is in his grocery." The officer 
hastened in quest of his game at the grocery, but no 
Hambel could be found. "He is down to his barn, 
I seen him go," said an innocent youth. Mr. Wim- 
berly rode up to the gate and seeing a man standing 
near the stable door, asked the person if he was Mr. 
James Hambel, of Marshalltown." " I am not," an- 
swered the wicked James, " but he is in the stable." 
The officer dismounted and went into the barn, but the 
culprit was invisible, of course. Coming into the 
daylight again, believing he was sold, he looked in 
the direction of Sam. Scott's house, where he saw a 
man with grey clothes, on a horse, the same that the 
person wore when he drove up the second time, deny- 
ing his identity. "Wimberly put spurs to his horse 
to overtake him, and then commenced as laughable a 
race as ever was seen. 

The man with grey clothes was not to be caught 
— down one street, up another, neck and heels, until 
quite a little time elapsed and then the deputy finally 
caught the John Gilpin. "A 'nt you Mr. Hambel ? " 
the pertinacious officer asked. " IsTary time ; what are 
you eternally dogging me for ? " answered Shurtz, and 
his great black eyes looked unutterable uglj^ things 
at him. Wimberly thought he had better start for 
Marietta at once, and he was not seen again in Mar- 
shalltown until the cars came in for the first time, 
when he took observations, never having seen a rail- 
road or car before. 



60 IOWA. 

J. L. Williams was to have been arrested at the time 
of Judge Smith's incarceration, but he dodged the 
officer very successfully, hiding behind the pantry 
door, and under the bed, till he wore out the patience 
of his pursuer, and was left to enjoy the sweets of 
home. 

But the greatest martyr in the conflict, was Rev. 
Mr. Babcock, who made himself quite meddlesome on 
some occasions. He tried to coax Mrs. Judge Smith 
to come down to Marshalltown to live, but the Mari- 
etta ladies blocked his game, by showering decayed 
eggs upon his clothes and saddle. No doubt he 
wished for a Smithfield fire to heat water for cleans- 
ing purposes, as he retired from the angelic bravts. 
Doctor Statler also received some mal-treatment a day 
or two after the battle. 

Upon summing up the case, an impartial witness 
would rejoice at the end of the conflict, for beside the 
bitter hatred and the blight attending such a contro- 
versy, there was an enormous expense in the courts 
connected with the exciting drama. As early as 
1853, Messrs. W. Rice and Anson, paid Atwater, of 
Marietta, a thousand dollars to identify himself with 
Marshalltown, and urge its claim in the District 
Court. His argument is said to be one of the most 
masterly documents of the kind ever presented to a 
legal tribunal — all bosh and sophistry, to be sure, from 
beginning to end, but it gave the contest wordy show 
for the rival of Marietta, which after seven long years 
of waiting was crowned with success. Atwater, we 
opine, got tired of battling, or else he was afraid the 
antagonists would eat each other up before they were 
done with it, for he disappears early from the theater 
of action and is not heard of after 1854, in the his- 
tory of the county, 

William Penh Clark, the counsel for Messrs. Rice, 
Anson and Woodbury, was paid five hundred dol- 
lars at one time ; not being satisfied with this little 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 61 

sugar plum, has sued for five liundred more, and the 
suit is still hanging fire in the Supreme Court. Judge 
Cole, now of the Supreme bench, received at one time, 
two hundred dollars from Marietta ; Crocker, the same 
amount ; but we have mentioned a very small share 
of the expense. Messre. Henderson and Boardman 
gave their services gratuitously ; it was a sort of legal 
training for them et gladiatour^ and served to make 
them the athletes they are in the profession. 

After the decision of the Supreme Court, declaring 
that Marshalltown was the rightful capital. Judge 
Smith, accompanied by L. Williams, on the last day of 
December, 1859, willed that the disagreeable task 
must be done, of 

REMOVING THE COUNTY RECORDS. 

Hitching up six yoke of oxen, the long contested 
property was taken from its corner in the little Court 
House at Marietta, placed aboard a sled, and under 
cover of the evening's darkness, across the silent 
prairie, with the mercury ten degrees below zero, they 
finally came to Main street and with but little cere- 
mony gave up their trust to the proper officers. 

The New Year dawned upon a glad village when 
the joyful news was proclaimed to the citizens of 
Marshalltown that the crown had changed hands, to last 
forever. Forthwith messengers were sent in every 
direction with invitations to everybody in Marietta and 
►dsewhere to attend a 



NEW YEAR S RECEPTION 

In the newly baptized city. Such havoc as was made 
among the little pigs and great turkeys ! the tables 
groaned with eatables ; and after everybody ate and 
drank all they could, there were still baskets full of 
fragments to be taken up. Nothing was done by 



62 IOWA. 

halves, many of tlie citizens of Marietta came down, 
and were met with cordial greetings, the hatchet was 
buried, and peace was made between the two cities. 
But an old Dutchman going home that night, was 
heard to say^ " I'se sho glad vat sail I do ? I musht 
vip sumpotty ! I vip mein frow if ze peeg has pen 
fed, if not, I vip her, ennyhow ; I musht vip sumpotty 
for thar ees no Mayette to vip eny more ! " 

Long before supper, cold and hot punch had been 
freely partaken of by some of the influential gentle- 
men, then whisky with water, whisky without water, 
sandwiched with good brandy, then water, wkisky 
and brandy again, till I am convinced from all ac- 
counts, that many faces wore the expression they did 
on the day when the blessed news came of the taking 
of Eichmond. It was a perfect ovation to the people 
of Marietta. There was a large pyramid cake, with 
the words, " Let the hatchet be buried." Mr. Mercer 
said, " We '11 not cut this cake, but leave the motto 
intact ;" and all through the evening every toast and 
sentiment expressed, was of a fraternal character. 

It was reported Dr. eat pumpkin pie for an 

hour, it tasted so like his mother's "good mince pie." 
But 

THE DEATH BLOW 

Had been given to Marietta. Soon after, her wealthiest 
and most enterprising citizens sold out at a ruinous 
sacrifice, and went to Marshalltown to live, where they 
were heartily welcomed. The stores and shops soon 
followed, the brass band dispersed, the literary society 
was obscured, away sped the houses one after another 
down to the new city, which had become a vampire to 
suck its blood — the work of demolition went on, until 
now, Marietta, six miles from a railroad, dismantled 
and ruined, is left with scarcely a trace of her departed 
glory. 

Most of the county officers were re-elected after the 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 63 

removal from Marietta, and have held the trust ever 
since, and nearly all who came to Marshalltown, are 
among the most esteemed and wealthiest of her 
citizens. 

HON. D. L. ARNOLD, 

Late revenue assessor of the sixth congressional 
district, is one of these, and made an excellent officer 
for the Government. Probabl}^ he would have the 
portfolio yet, had not Andy "swung the circle," and 
sent the voluminous papers to the care of another 
worthy officer, his successor. Gen. T. H. Benton. Mr. 
Arnold is wealthy, yet kind to the needy, and has an 
unspotted reputation as a Christian gentleman. 

T. ABELL, ESQ., 

The pleasant banker, who still buys and sells exchange 
as he did in Marietta, and spent, with others, a large 
amount of money to make that village the perma- 
nent metropolis, is one of Marshalltown's most pros- 
perous and energetic men. Mr. Abeli has been a 
great helper in the Presbyterian church, and was for- 
ward to give of his means to the Orphan's Fair. 

Mr. Joseph Holmes, Doctor Waters, and Doctor 
Whealen, all came in due time to Marshalltown, also 
Mr. Thomas Mercer has a beautiful home there. He 
is a botanist of great scientific attainments and has 
unrivalled taste in flowers. 

The old court house bought by Mr. Turner, left 
Marietta and settled itself on the south side of Main 
street, and holds up harness and saddles instead of 
papers and maps, and tells no tales of powder trains 
and the secret plottings of its former daj^s. Mr. 
Crow's hotel where the Times office is located, feeds 
the brain of Marietta as it did the inner man. Mr. 
John Turner, whose untiring energy, with his part- 
ner, Mr. C. C. Stone, has built one of the heaviest 
hardware stores in the State, was a Marietta man, and 



64 IOWA. 

did everything within mortal reach to make it a city. 
His worthy lady, a sister of the charming Mrs. Abell 
and the winsome " Minta," has done much in embel- 
lishments at our festivals and county fairs, and espe- 
cially at the Orphan's Home Fair. We shall always 
thank the few who wrought so faithfully in the floral 
department for that isle of beauty in the ocean of sand 
and dust elsewhere. Mr. J. L. Williams and H. D., 
his brother, familiarly called "Jake," are seen at the 
county clerk's desk, as chatty and genial as they were 
ten years ago at Marietta. In fact, these we have men- 
tioned, and many others, are among the very best 
citizens of Marshalltown. All bitter feeling has died 
away, and the past with its horrors and threatenings, 
only serves to excite a smile, for all are friends and 
united in every good work. We have only to men- 
tion that Boardman hobnobbed with Henderson in a 
week after coming here, went into a law partnership 
with him, and now sits around the green baize with 
T. Brown, Esq., who did as much to kill Marietta as 
any other man. 

Marietta will again become a business point should 
the railroad be built now projected between Marshall- 
town and Eldora. The village has yet about two 
hundred inhabitants, a store, several shops, and an 
excellent school under the management of Mrs. Quincy 
Black, a lady of thorough scholarship and graceful 
manner. Her exhibitions always call out a crowded 
house. There is an M. E. Church under the pastoral 
care of Eev. Mr. Hayman ; and no town in the county 
is surrounded by farms under such a high state of cul- 
ture. The Catholic Church which was finished in 
1861, was usually filled by an earnest audience from 
French Grove, and a large settlement on the Minerva, 
but it was made of poor material, and • blew down 
about three years since, to the great annoyance of 
the communicants and Father Emmons, of Iowa City, 
who officiated at the altar. The architect was Mr. S. 
Marshall, now of the St. James. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 65 

This township is rapidly filling up with new settlers, 
has excellent public schools, and is every way a de- 
sirable point for farmers. 

IOWA TOWNSHIP. 

Iowa township is situated in the second tier from 
the Hardin line, contains some very good timber, 
while coal crops out along the banks of the Iowa 
river, and it also well watered by that stream and its 
tributaries. There are splendid farms in this town- 
ship, where locust and cottonwood gi'oves have been 
cultivated, making a good protection for stock and 
fruit, besides giving rare beauty to the landscape. 
Iowa is quite thickly settled and for a long time polled 
more votes than any other in the county. Among 
the earliest settlers, who came in the year 1849, was 
Messrs. Philip Ballard, William, his brother, and 
Jacob Ha user. 

Mr. P. Ballard relates his experience in getting to 
the prairie home in this wise : It was early in the 
spring, and when coming to the Iowa river it was 
found necessary to cross on a piece of ice by laying 
boards from shore to the ice, the horses were induced 
to cross over, then the wagon was drawn over by hand 
(after the goods had been removed), then over went 
the furniture, and finally, the wife and little ones. It 
was a marvel to every one in the vicinity how they 
crossed and without danger. The bears troubled his 
pigs and carried off a few of them, and in revenge he 
stole bruin's honey from the bee-trees. 

If we had only space to tell of the frontier experi- 
ences vvliich the families " over the river " had through 
the Indian war, the cold winters in their miserable 
little cabins, their thankfulness when they could buy 
a pound of coffee, it might make some of us who 
grumble, more contented. 

Mr. Hauser was county clerk in its first organization. 



66 IOWA. 

Mr. Seymour was one of the earliest pioneers, but is 
now living in Kansas. But we will call the reader's 
attention to the most important place in the township, 
which is 

ALBION. 

It was laid out and surveyed in August, 1852, by 
George W. Voris and Thomas S. Brown, and given 
the name of Lafayette, which it continued to bear 
until 1858, when it was changed to Albion, there being 
another town named Lafayette on the Des Moines 
river. Albion is situated on the east side of the Iowa 
river, and has a splendid location, one of the finest in 
the State. Among the earliest settlers was Mr. Perrigo, 
now of Marshalltown, who had the first store here and 
helped build up Albion ; Mr. Jotham Keyes, who did 
a large business on air foundations and then vanished 
from the board of trade. Attorney T. Brown, now law 
partner with Boardman, who is well known as one of 
the best criminal lawyers in the State ; also, Professor 
Wilson, a talented editor and elocutionist. Mr. E. H. 
CHAPiisr, whose witty, trenchant pen cuts evil and self- 
conceit right and left ; Mr. Abram Stanley, a very 
successful business man, and Mr. Tripp, also a pioneer 
merchant, came about 1854, and all have been iden- 
tified with the growth of the town. 

About the year 1857, in the strife among the in- 
fant towns for notoriety and to become the county 
seat, Albion did not wish to be made a cat's paw by 
Messrs. Rice, Anson and Woodbury without a bonus, 
so having a literary taste, her efforts were put forth to 
obtain a seminary of learning. Upon a hint in the 
Iowa Central, whereof Mr. Chapin was editor, sub- 
scriptions were at once asked of the rival towns 
claiming to be the county seat ; intimating that the 
one which gave the highest amount, would get the 
most votes from Iowa township in the coming 
election. Both went to work, and on presenting the 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 67 

subscription to the board of trustees of the Marshall 
County High School in Albion, it was found that 
Marietta had given three thousand dollars ; and Mar- 
shalltown, not to be outdone, raised hers to one thou- 
sand more. 

This commenced the present College building, but 
the county voted the sales of all swamp lands for the 
finishing of the enterprise, releasing all these stock- 
holders from their engagements, excepting those from 
Albion. As many prominent men had given notes 
as well as money, it was quite a relief. Under some 
defect in the school law, it was found that they could 
get no help from the State, so that when the offi- 
cers of an organization calling themselves the Iowa 
Lutheran College, offered to buy the high school 
building, it was sold to them, they representing that 
they had an endowment fund of sixteen thou- 
sand dollars. This was considered a fine stroke of 
diplomacy for Albion. Kev. E. Geiger was chosen 
president of the faculty, with several professors, etc. 
For some reason the endowment fund never reached 
the sum named above, and it has been struggling along 
to the best of its ability ever since. It has met a 
scathing ordeal of sectarian prejudice, also internal dis- 
sensions in the faculty ; the citizens have often given it 
a side luipe^ and it has had quite enough to wither the 
life from any corporate body of learning. It has, how- 
ever, been very liberal to the soldiers, and had some 
faithful, self-denying teachers, but it needs an endow- 
ment fund of a hundred thousand dollars, and enough 
more in its purse to add a couple of wings to the old 
dilapidated structure, and refarnish it from turret to 
foundation with new furniture, apparatus, etc. We 
wish this institution of learning great prosperity, and 
hope that money will be raised for the above purpose. 



68 IOWA. 



A BREWING TEMPEST. 

After wasliing the feet of Albion, after kissing tlie 
faces of their dirty children, after exhausting stores of 
sniiflf and tobacco for her old women, and giving them 
all the swamp lands and other material aid, Albion, in 
February, 1860, (after a submission of two months 
to Marshalltown as the rightful sovereign,) circulated a 
petition through the county, praying that the county 
seat should be removed to that place. Fearing that 
there might be a successful hearing before the county 
judge, and there would be the expense and trouble of 
another canvas, a remonstrance was likewise circu- 
lated, and learning through a faithful detective, that 
there was about as many names on the petition as upon 
the remonstrance, one night a committee, self-appointed 
in Marshalltown, drew up about four hundred fictitious 
names that could be used in case of an emergency. 
Some of the names were those of persons in their 
graves, some were in the Eastern States, and occasion- 
ally the surname was transposed with the baptismal 
cognomen, until the " hodge-podge " was well calculated 
to deceive a Philadelphia lawyer, but only sixty were 
used. The case came up before Judge Battin and it 
was on trial nearly a week. As soon as it was found 
that there might be a possibility of a decision in favor 
of Albion, (Judge Battin being a citizen of that vil- 
lage) it was thought best by the watchful guardians 
of Marshalltown to arm themselves with an injunction 
from the district court against removing the records. 
So in the darkness of the night. Esquire Grregg and 
Doctor Statler started for Iowa City to obtain a hear- 
ing of Judge Thompson, as he was going there to 
attend court. When within a few miles of the city 
they overtook him, and he, fortunately granted the 
injunction. 

They returned quite elated with their success, but 
the document never was used, for Judge Battin think- 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 69 

ing it was time the county seat insurrections should 
be crushed, decided against Albion, and threw the 
costs of the suit upon the plaintiffs, T. J. Wilson, 
Esq., Daniel Wheeler, Mr. Tiipp and a Mr. Sweet. 
This was the last eruption of the county seat fever, 
which promised to be chronic for some time to come, 
as it was alleged that Marietta was at the bottom of 
the conspiracy. 

As a specimen of the sharpness of some of the 
Marshalltown men, we mention the fact, that while 
Mr. William Howard, of Liberty, was producing the 
petition at the trial, and giving testimony as to the 
genuineness of some of the names attached to it, a sly 
rascal cut off about forty names from the paper with 
his pocket knife, in the twinkling of an eye, passed it 
to another of the same Beelzebub persuasion, and with 
the aid of a couple of wafers, persons were made to 
do duty on the other side of the house. Mr. Howard 
and the court, were so occupied that they never 
noticed the deception, and probably it is not known to 
many of the county to day. 

At this trial, the downcast looks of the plaintiffs 
was considered a good offset for the unpleasantness 
that Albion had caused Doctor Glick and Mr. Wood- 
bury at their trial, for holding Judge Smith's nose to 
the grindstone. 

PRIMITIVE LIVING. 

Mrs. Perrigo mentions renting the first frame house 
built in Albion. Then they made preparations for a 
home, Mr. P. hiring a hand from Cedar Kapids to assist 
him in the project. The man got sick, so Mr. Perrigo 
built the house alone, raising the balloon frame by 
himself, mostly. Mrs. Perrigo remembers of moving 
into it Avhen the roof was shingled only at one corner, 
and she could lie in bed and see the stars as they 
marched in solemn procession through the night. 
The shingle horse where they manufactured the 



70 IOWA. 

shingles, stood next to the table, and pictures, tin 
skimmers, clothing and skillets were close neighbors 
on the nnplastered walls. 

Mrs. Perrigo once dressed in calico for an afternoon 
visit, wearing also a gingham sun-bonnet and cotton 
gloves. This costume was considered such an index 
to her pride, that it was made the subject of remark, 
especially the gloves, but Mrs. Arny, the hostess was 
glad to receive her, and she spent a pleasant after- 
noon with others of the company who would laugh at 
cotton gloves now-a-days, as well as Mrs. Perrigo, who 
is unrivaled in her taste for dress. 

Mr. J. P. Allington came later, was an excellent 
mechanic, and at an early day, made wagons for the 
Iowa farmers. Mr. B. T. Phillips, a prominent man in 
this section, came in 1856, and has filled some of the 
first ofiices of the township with trust and ability. 
He is now an extensive stock and grain dealer. Mr. 
William Thrall, a good citizen, has been here some 
years. 

Mr. Lucas built the first hotel in Albion, then sold 
to Mr. Hobart, and the location was long known as 
the Hobart House. Mr. Howell, of Ohio, bought it two 
years since, and in western parlance, he knows " how 
to keep hotel," or rather his wafe does, for is not the 
landlady the central sun of the whole system in a 
tarvern f 

One of the early settlers was Mr. Beeson, whose son, 
Lieutenant Beeson, served with so much distinction in 
the Union army ; also Mr. Hunmalean, who set out 
a beautiful grove of cotton woods and had fruit and 
stock in great plenty. He was a man of energy ; al- 
though w^asted by long sickness he still would work. 
Some one asked him not long before his death, why he 
kept planting ornamental trees. He gave a beautiful 
reply, " Some weary body will love to sit under their 
pleasant shadows and think of me when I am gone." 
He placed in the solid earth a more splendid monu- 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 71 

ment than the costliest marble column, which will 
outlive his worthy act for generations to come. 

The first newspaper published in Albion was edited 
by Prof. T. WiLSON, now of Marshalltown, and called 
the Towa Central Journal. This enterprise was com- 
menced in the month of November, 1855. It was 
the only newspaper published in a radius of one 
hundred miles ; and on looking over its files we find 
fine ability as a writer, and it certainly reflected great 
credit upon the Professor to place such a shining light 
in the darkness of the western border. 

He afterward sold out to E. H. Chapin, Esq., who 
associated with him, K. H. Barnhart, a good local and 
a successful publisher, who has been in partnership 
with his brothers, publishing a line of democratic 
journals through the State. Mr. Barnhart at this 
time was a man of small means, his lady assisting 
him in setting type ; and in the space of ten years 
has become wealthy. Iowa is the home for poor men. 
Afterward, Mr. Chapin sold to Doctor Taylor, a clear, 
pleasant writer, author of a former history of the 
county, and one of the earliest physicians in its limits. 
The ofiice was moved to Marshalltown after the remo- 
val of the county seat, and was known as the Marshall 
County Times. 

On the 4th of July, 1855, everybody and his wife 
were invited to a celebration of the natal day of the 
Eepublic, at the town of Lafayette. The multitude 
assembled on the Public Square; Mr. Sawyer now 
living in Marshalltown was chief marshal of the day, 
Doctor Hixon gave the oration and read the Declara- 
tion of Independence. William Ballard and a few 
others did the singing, and it was a good time. 
Doctor Wheal an was to have taken the forum, but in 
passing a new building, a wicked shingle in its down- 
fall struck him on the head, so that he failed to per- 
form his role^ and gain immortality as a speaker — 
he never attempted the like again, believing that Fate 



72 IOWA. 

had other employment for the exercise of his talents. 
On another occasion, in 1857, Judge C. C. Cole gave 
the oration, and a Mr. Lloyd read the declaration, but 
spoiled all by attempting to explain the meaning of 
that sublime yet perfectly simple document in a long 
harangue. Mr. Ballard (who, by the way, has a 
beautiful voice), also gave " Hail Columbia " at this 
celebration. Some years after, when a company of 
soldiers were leaving for the field, he sang the " Old 
Liberty Tree," with fine effect upon the crowd. 

In the year 1859 there was a Congregational 
Church formed in conjunction with Marietta, Eev. E. 
Boardman, pastor, who officiated alternately in that 
capacity once in two weeks. There was a member- 
ship of fourteen. Mr. P. Chapin, a man full of 
Christian graces, now living in Marshall, was chosen 
deacon, and another good man, Mr. M. Hastings, was 
their secretary. The Lutherans coming in 1861 in such 
numbers, it was thought best to disband, and, with a 
few scattering Presbyterians, sacrifice on the same 
altar with them. Mr. George Keyes, one of the mem- 
bers of this little church, w^as noted afterward for his 
bravery in the army. A Mr. Larrison was killed in 
building a bridge in this township, and his death was 
very much regretted at the time. Mr. David Randolph, 
a prominent gentleman, came in 1856 to Albion, 
with his son-in-law, Mr. Cowgell, the superintendent 
of the M. E. Sunday School in their pretty brick 
chapel. Mr. Swearingen, quite a wealthy gentleman, 
and one of the trustees of the college, has been here 
some years. Judge Hobbs is now a resident of this 
township, and Doctor Richey, a good physician ; also 
Mr. Hinman, who has a splendid stock farm. He has 
been associated in business sometime with David 
Wells, one of the most noted stock dealers in the 
State. Lieutenant Arny of this township died a few 
months since, and was much beloved for his patriotic 
and noble bearing in the army and at home. 



^mt 








MARSHALL COUNTY. 73 

North of Albion and farther up the drowsy river, 
is a postoffice hamlet called Norris. It is of great 
convenience to the farmers in that thickly settled com- 
munit}'-. Mr. S. Meyer, one of the Fort men, lives in 
this section ; he came from Tennessee originally, and 
settled here in 1853. He gave a brave boy's life for 
the old flag at Atlanta, who no doubt learned the 
lessons of freedom amid the mountain tops of the 
Cumberlands. 

Judge Battin came to Albion sometime in 1856, 
and is favorably known in the county as an impartial, 
faith fal officer, as well as an honest merchant. He 
has been thoroughly identified with the enterprises of 
the Iowa valley to develop its resources and make 
this section a desirable home for our people. 

Mr. Cripps has decidedly one of the finest apiaries in 
the State. He sells hundred of pounds of honey yearly, 
that delicious epicurean dish, which is within reach of 
every d vveller upon the prairie ; also, grapes rivalling 
those of Eshcol, Guinea pigs and hens, and other useful 
animals He certainly will reap a pecuniary harvest 
for his labors and enterprise in this direction. 

Albion has two stores, a grocery, hotel, and all the 
shops necessary for the wants of its citizens. It con- 
tains about four hundred inhabitants, and the advan- 
tao^es of the Lutheran Colle2:e make it an attractive 
point to settlers. They have several churches in or- 
ganization, and service is generally held in the college 
building. Kev. Dr. Sternberg lectures to crowded 
houses upon religious topics, which is of great benefit 
and enjoyment to the citizens. We bespeak for this 
beautiful little town and for its infant college an 
abundant prosperity. 

MARSHALL 

Township is a little east of the geographical center of 
the county, and is rolling prairie dotted with splendid 
groves, with Asher's Creek, Linn and the Iowa ot, 

7 



74 IOWA. 

water tlie surface, making it a natural garden supply- 
ing the marlvet of Marslialltown. 

The earliest settlers were two brothers, William 
Ralls and G. S. Ralls, also John Braddy and Mr. 
Crowder. 

The first white child born in this township was 
Joseph Luther, a son of Mr. G. S. Ralls, and he is still 
living in Iowa township. William Ralls came from 
Wapello county in March, 1850, and lived in a cabin 
near Colonel Shurtz's present residence. Soon after 
their arrival their house was robbed and burned, leaving 
the family almost destitute. As many of the valua- 
bles was afterwards seen in a canoe, there was not 
much doubt as to the authors of the mischief It was 
a cruel thing under the circumstances. They lived on 
a dirt floor in a cabin afterward, had a tough time 
through the Indian war ; but in a few years made a 
good farm and now are wealthy. The first court and 
county election was held at their house, and there 
were just thirty votes in the ballot box. 

" Jack " Braddy had a claim and cabin a little west 
of them. He cut poles about as large as a stove pipe 
and made his home, covered the roof with slough 
grass, and himself and family had a terrible contest 
with ague here. It often rained down in torrents on 
their shaking frames, and those who have had the ague 
can properly appreciate tlieir situation. 

Mr. Washington Asher, another pioneer on the 
Tiorthern edge of the township, had a claim near the 
creek that bears his name. It is a beautiful stream 
and is noted for its splendid ice in winter and purple 
grapes in autumn. After Mr. Asher's people came 
out of the fort, the giide man was away on business a 
part of the season. So afraid was Mrs. A. of the 
snakes, that on retiring she used to place the chairs 
in a row to walk upon in case she was obliged to light 
ihe candle in the night. 

Mr. Thomas Brown, who went into the armj^ and 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 75 

died in some far off hospital, is often mentioned as 
one of the earliest settlers in this neighborhood. The 
family lived on cracked corn and wild meat for a long 
time. He rendezvoused with the others north of the 
river at the time of the Musquaquan war in 1850, at 
P. Ballard's house. He was a brave, good man in 
every particular. 

In the spring of 1854, there was another Indian 
scare called the Sioux war. Quite a large number of 
warriors assembled in Hardin county, and were often 
insolent in their demands, and the report spread over 
the prairies, that they were determined on driving the 
whites from the Iowa valley. The Indians certainly 
had an inextinguishable affection for Marshall country. 
Many of the settlers became very much alarmed and 
huddled together for protection for a day or two, at 
Mr. Brown's. But the Sioux soon changed their 
minds, and withdrew to the northwestern part of the 
State, where their smouldering hate flamed out in the 
massacre at Spirit Lake. 

A Mr. More came a good deal later, about 1855, in 
this section, and built a good saw mill, which was of 
much advantage to the people. He owned a large 
claim of valuable timbered land, but after a few years 
of contest with western life died, much regretted. 
Mr. Brown is known, however, as having endured 
a great deal of privation. He came in 1849. 

It is w^onderful what powers of endurance many of 
these old settlers had ! They shame us of a later day 
with our feebleness, for their feet were often frozen 
taking care of stock and procuring fuel ; they had fevers 
and agues, but still wrought on their farms, shaking 
like bean pods in a November breeze. But the ague 
has almost entirely disappeared, and we have a very 
healthy country at present, and with the agricultural 
machinery, farming is now almost like play. 

Mr. Silas Chorn is mentioned as coming to Marshall 
in the spring of 1852, and settling on a farm west 



76 IOWA. 

of the city, near Mr. Johnson Allen's. He is 
employed at present at Mr. Turner's hardware 
store ; a man of strict probity in business relations. 
Mr. Henry Hartwell came in 1854 and lives in that 
neighborhood. Mr. H. is an exceedingly charitable 
man. He was known for many years as making the 
first brick in this section. He is a staunch Universalist, 
and on all occasions maintains what he believes is truth, 
without fear or restraint. 

About here — sometimes called the half-way house 
to Marietta, on what is now the edge of the corpora- 
tion of Marshalltown — lived Mr. Allen. Also Mr. K 
Gillespie, well known as a strict temperance man, and 
devoted Presbyterian. At one time the liquor sellers' 
minions girdled a splendid orchard belonging to Mr. 
G., worth two thousand dollars. 

Another good family, members of the M. E. Church, 
and loyal to the government, who came in 1854, and 
identified with all good works, is old Father Caniield's 
While living on his farm, the war broke out and three 
of his sons went into the service, all making their 
mark as brave, good soldiers. 

HENRY ANSON, ESQ., 

Made the first settlement upon the present site of 
Marshalltown in the spring of 1851, entering the 
claim at the land office at Des Moines the same year. 
Previous to this, however, there was a squatter who 
had a little cabin on the south side of the claim. 
Taking fifty dollars from Mr. Anson, he left, and went 
away before Mr. A. built his cabin where Wiley's car- 
riage shop now stands. His claim, however, was 
bounded b}^ the north side of Main street ; and between 
that line and the river, the land was owned by Mr. 
William Ealls, who sold it to Mr. John Kelly, and 
he, in turn, sold to Dr. John Childs for four hundred 
and fifty dollars, property worth now nearly a half 
million. Mr. Childs lived in a cabin on the north side 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 77 

of the claim, but after the town was laid out he moved 
it upon Main street. 

MARSHALLTOWN" 

Was surveyed in the summer of 1853, long after 
Marietta, by Mr. Kisden of Iowa City, under direction 
of Messrs. Anson and Childs, we believe. It was 
named after Marshall, Michigan, Mr. Anson having 
some pleasant memories of that place. 

Mr. Anson was a son-in-law of Mr. Sylvanus Rice, 
of Trumbull county, Ohio, and he persuaded Mr. R., 
his sons Wells and Miles, also John A. Kelly, a 
brother-in-law, to make Marshall their home. This 
was in the spring of 1852. It is said of Mr. Anson, 
that after travelling over a considerable portion of 
Iowa, he came here, and in a fit of enthusiasm swung 
his hat over his head, " I 've found the prettiest place 
in the world," said he, " Here I '11 lay my bones ! " 
The families above-mentioned with Doctor Childs, 
were the founders of Marshall, the affix of town being 
added as there was another town in Henry county by 
the same name. 

The first glass window in the township that let in 
the blessed sunlight, was framed in Anson's cabin. 
Many of the settlers thought it a useless piece of furni- 
ture, as they lived with open windows the year round. 
Mr. Anson was known as the red-headed Yankee, who 
had a well-sweep, and that machine was talked of as 
another useless thing, for a rope was cheaper, if not 
so handy. Some of his relatives coming a year or 
two after, (Mrs. Anson and " Mike " as he is familiarly 
called) heard of " Hank's " well-sweep for ten miles 
eastward. Hank also proved himself quite a dentist, 
extracting teeth with a pair of bullet moulds. He 
built the first saw-mill on Linn creek and about the 
first one in the county, but it was burned in June, 
1856, after being of great advantage to settlers. Mr. 
Anson was also the first Justice, and at the township 



78 IOWA. 

election held in the embryo city, the voters dropped 
their ballots into a box through the window of his 
cabin. 

When Mr. A. occupied this cabin in the north of 
the town, he was also Land Agent as well as Justice, 
and besides all the business carried on, the cooking 
for three families went forward under the same roof — 
the two brothers, Piatt and Charley Smith from Iowa 
City, and the Squires of Marshalltown. Anson's moth- 
er and sister came in a year or two afterward. While 
they were building their cabin they lived in a wagon- 
box, placing the bed under the running gear of the 
wagon, with a couple of boards for shelter. They used 
to laugh at their airy dormitory as they bundled up 
for the night. 

Mr. Anson built the present McLean House and 
has been connected with almost every prominent 
enterprise of the city and county. 



Formerly of Ohio, came here the next year after Mr. 
Anson, and buying the claim of Mr. John Kelly, 
lived there and dispensed hospitality to many of the 
new comers. What appetites emigrants used to have 
in those days ! Coming in wagons and throngh the 
bracing, healthy air of Iowa, dyspeptics lost their bad 
symptoms and took another form of disease, called the 
" Iowa eatables," or consumption, that is, consume all 
on the table and speak of kissing the cook. Eailroad 
traveling is not half as good for dyspeptics as the old- 
fashioned canvas-topped wagon. 

The first meeting held in Marshalltown congregated 
in Mr. C's cabin, which was thirteen feet square. A 
Cumberland Presbyterian minister on his journey 
stopped w^ith the family, and consented to preach, it 
being the Sabbath. Mr. Childs moved the furniture 
outside, but still many were obliged to stand out of 
doors ; about thirty attended the services, and without 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 79 

any flattery to the preacher, he had, indeed a croioded 
house. Some of the boys and large girls were bare- 
foot, and a large sprinkling of pasteboard sun-bonnets 
were to be seen. 

We shall speak farther of Mr. Childs in the unfold- 
ing of the history of Marshalltown. 

SYLVAN us RICE, ESQ., 

Mr. Anson's father-in-law, came here in 1852 and 
built a barn which he used as a house until he could 
do better. There were no mills then, or lumber, so 
that the primitive logs and puncheons were the building 
material, excepting that brought from Iowa City. Mr. 
Rice afterward built a frame store, then the " Rice 
Hotel," of brick, and the Marshall House, with other 
enterprises of the kind. Mr. Rice has one of those 
cheerful happy natures which makes a new-comer feel 
at home and welcome. When he was landlord, this 
was very apparent, and his homesick neighbors who 
came early and had privations, often looked to him 
for encouragement and cheer. His estimable lady was 
very much loved in this vicinity ; she died in 1863. 
He has since been united to a Mre. Lord, relict of the 
late Doctor Lord, of Hardin county, and is now living 
there. His son, Miles Rice, is now living here, 
after two 3'ears' residence in Idaho. 

WELLS RICE, ESQ., 

One of the founders of Marshalltown, is a citizen who 
has been more closely identified with her interests than 
any other for the past fifteen years. We mean no in- 
justice to any one. Mr. Rice has never left the work 
of upbuilding the city for the time mentioned, has 
left no stone unturned, whereupon to lay the foun- 
dations of Mar^Jiialltown broad and wide. He came 
here in 1852 aKcl lived in a cabin near the north end 
of what is now Mr. N. Gillespie's farm. The door was 
made of rived shingles, no latch, leaky roof, and 



80 IOWA. 

crevices so large in the puncheon floor, that the little 
ones crept shyl}^ past, for fear of the snakes and other 
varmints who sometimes took refuge there. Mrs. Rice 
came home one day and found a large rattlesnake 
cosily taking a snooze upon the door step, but she soon 
obeyed Scripture in despatching the gentleman to his 
own place, by bruising his head with a garden spade. 
Soon after the family came here, a beautiful little boy 
was born to them, whom they named Marshall after 
the embryo city, but he died after three months of 
life, and was buried on the Jack Braddy farm. 

Mrs. Rice relates a legend of the early times in this 
wise. A lady had occasion to visit a neighbor, and 
on her return she found that she had left the door 
ajar. The woods near at hand were filled with hogs 
of a peculiar breed called " prairie sharks " brought 
here by the Indians, This species of hogs is now 
nearly extinct ; they have very long legs and noses, 
immense ears, and thin as a slab. Upon going into 
tiie house, the lady saw to her surprise, standing on 
its hind legs in front of the cupboard, with its musical 
jaws in motion, one of these prairie sharks eating- 
bread and butter from the top shelf! It was a sight 
for a housekeeper, and the broomstick played an im- 
portant part in the drama afterward. 

Mr. Rice was the first Postmaster in the town, and 
this enterprise was established in the fall of 1854. 
The mail came upon an old two-horse wagon, at first 
weekly — then, after a few years have passed away, 
think of our facilities for receiving intelligence by car 
and telegraph ! 

Mr. Rice lived in Bureau county, Illinois, before 
coming here, and on the journey the family met with 
a funny mishap. In crossing the classic waters of 
an Iowa slough, the horses mired down and wagon 
too. It was the last one on the trail and consequently 
was in a fair way to get to China, unless there was a 
long pull, and a strong pull altogether. After a half 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 81 

day's labor, by lifting with fence rails, the vehicle was 
righted up, but in the operation, overboard went a 
barrel of sugar, pickles, jars of sweetmeats, and a 
splendid rocking chair, into the ruins. We will not 
write further at present of Mr. Kice, but introduce 
another family to the reader's notice, early known 
in the village, whose name the paterfamilias bears, as 

John A. Kelly, Esq., 

Who came here in 1853 and lived on a farm now 
owned by Mr. Edward Thayer, we believe. He built 
a cabin and had the usual furniture of those days ; iot 
the experience of others had shown that fine uphol- 
stery was a poor investment to bring in a wagon for 
hundreds of miles, as our "Northwestern" was not a 
carryall for a good many j^ears after. Mr. Kelly has 
amassed a splendid fortune, and with others has done 
much to develop the resources of the country, giving 
material aid to schools, the railroad, churches, and 
many other institutions. 

Mr. Kelly gives the particulars of an exciting elk 
hunt which came off in 1852 that excels our Wall 
Lake friends in superiority of game. All of the set- 
tlers principally were engaged in it, and in the course 
of the day they brought down three large elk, wolves, 
deer, and coons without number. As it was in the 
winter, and snow on the ground, the game tracks were 
clearly perceptible, and there was a great deal of fun 
and hilarity on this occasion. 

Mrs. Kelly and Mrs. Eice both have held high 
office in very many of the charitable societies in the 
city, and are ladies of great personal merit. 

In this year came other actors on the stage ; among 
them, 

a B. STRAIGHT, 

From Ohio, and built a cabin near North Main street, 
had quilts for doors, and the carpenter used wooden 



82 IOWA. 

nails instead of Pittsburgh, about the domicil. Mr. 
Straight helped initiate the contest for the county 
seat, and was prominent in building the court house 
and other improvements. He says many laughed 
at him as he wrought on the masonry of the court 
house, being so cold at one time that he nearly froze 
his hands as he laid the wall of the town hall, as it 
was ostensibly named at the beginning. 

Mrs. Straight is one of the largest- hearted women 
in the world — kind to the poor and distressed every- 
where. 

Mr. Straight built a frame house, now occupied as 
a kitchen by I. J. Sanford, and then erected the 
beautiful Gothic residence which he now lives in, on 
West Main street. They have a nicely arranged 
flower plat, showing fine taste in its cultivation. In 
company with this family came Mr. S. Dwight, and 
upon buying the log house owned by Henry Anson, 
gave a tea-party soon afterwards to the citizens of the 
vicinity. 

The next spring while Mr. Dwight was drawing rock, 
his little son, a lad of twelve years, fell from the load, 
and the wagon passing over him caused instant death. 
This was the first fatal accident in the county, and 
caused great gloom in the infant settlement. Mr. D. 
has a daughter that shows poetic talent, which, if cul- 
tivated, may make a future worth striving for. 

In the summer of 1854 came Father Hoffman, one 
of the best men that ever lived in the city — is men- 
tioned as dwelling in a rail pen with a slough-grass 
roof, and when it rained, Mrs. H. used to walk about 
her mansion under an umbrella. For a parlor, they 
arranged the family carriage by unloosening the cur- 
tains ; and here too, " Mike," our deputy collector, had 
a long run of typhoid fever. Four of the family had 
the fever also, in consequence of exposure in this hut. 
So many settlers coming in, it was impossible to get 
lumber ; but buying a house afterward, Mr. H. could 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 83 

not induce tlie proprietor to leave until he could 
obtain another house for his family. This frame 
house is the one now occupied by Mr. Hoffman. Mr. 
Yeamans and Mrs. Gillespie, Mr. Dubois, and Mr. 
Oviatt, who afterward married a daughter of Father 
Hoffman, came this year. Mr. Mead, also ; and we 
think the good and much lamented Mr. Webster. 

DISTILLERY. 

About this time, an old gentleman by the name of 
Haynes, built a rude distillery in the northwestern 
part of the town, constructing his. receivers of dug-out 
troughs of wood. Trappers would take a bag of corn 
and a jug, empty the corn into a heap, and fill the 
jug from the trough without a graduating scale or 
measure. Glorious days for topers ! 

AMUSEMENTS. 

The young and old danced on the puncheon floors, 
and sometimes played "pussy in the corner." Before 
they had any church or Sunday School, the Sabbaths 
seemed long and lonely, excepting to a few devout 
believers. One lady says that they left their " go to 
meetin's on the other side of the Mississippi." There 
certainly was a woful lack of church privileges or even 
prayer meetings. 

When Mr. Anson finished his mill, the citizens con- 
sidered it quite a treat to go down by the brook-side 
and listen to the tic-tac and clatter of the much- 
needed institution. 

Mrs. Childs relates a pleasing incident of going to 
the Iowa river one day with her little girls on a fishing 
expedition. It was her first trial. They had asked 
for fish, should she give them a scorpion ? No ! So, 
taking line, hook and bait to the running water, and 
hushing her partners in the expedition to a proper 
degree of silence, she succeeded in taking a huge red- 



84 IOWA. 

horse, quite corpulent enough for the family's supper. 
Such self-reliance would have made a successful quar- 
termaster even in the desert of Sahara. 

It was splendid days for housekeepers then — no 
two weeks of spring cleaning, no ruffles to make or 
yards of tatting to crotchet ; they did not skate or 
turn up their noses at a mechanic's wife ; they did up 
their housework in short time and in order, then read 
over old letters and the New York Tribune, while 
the day ended with a social chat among their neigh- 
bors. It would be exceedingly dull now-a-days thus 
to live. 

Henry Anson and Mr. Wells Eice, restless and amb- 
itious, were not satisfied with their place being a suburb 
of Marietta, and as far back as 1853 commenced war 
on the aforesaid, with no more remorse than if pluck- 
ing an owl in the forest. Atwater, of Marietta, was 
a keen lawyer, and one day he was approached by these 
powers behind the throne, and forthwith became a 
most devoted follower of Marshalltown. Then came 
a long argument that the location of the county seat at 
Marietta was illegal, as there were only two commission- 
ers instead of three, according to legislative action. 
There were three more talked of, and when they were 
appointed by Judge McKay, each received a splendid 
shot-gun, so it was reported. Marshalltown then 
claimed the county seat to all new comers, which was 
as stoutly denied on the other hand by Marietta. 
These stakes were set in 1853. Finally, a writ of 
mandamus came from the District Court compelling 
Marietta to remove the records. x\ll being hosh on the 
part of Marshalltown, just to keep the thing in law 
until they could control public sentiment to carry the 
question. 

Anson and Kice, afterwards assisted by Mr. Wood- 
bury and others, carried on this contest through seven 
long years, and finally their pertinacity was crowned 
with success. 



MAESHALL COUNTY. 85 

It was the tlieme of many an anxious conversation 
among the citizens of the little village — let them but 
once get this advantage, the certainty of Marshalltown 
becoming a city was beyond doubt. There was 
nothing done by halves, everybody was treated hand- 
somely, and an agreeable impression was sought to be 
be made upon tlie stranger, so that he might be in- 
duced to turn around liis four-wheeled emigrant-ship 
with its freight of pigs, chickens and tow-headed 
children into the Marshalltown harbor. 

Wells Rice built the first respectable building in the 
city, being made of lime, sand and gravel mixed to- 
gether and called grout. This was in the fall of 1852. 
Dr. John Childs, of the firm of Choate & Childs, built 
the first frame house in the following summer of 1853. 
They celebrated its grand appearance on the corner of 
Main and Center streets, by a house-warming — without 
chamber floors, but loith a "glorious supper and 
dance,*' as an actor in the festivities reports. 

The first two-story frame store, (now occupied as 
a meat market near Dr. Cummings) was built by C. B. 
Straight, in company with Mr. Sylvanus Rice, the 
gentlemanly, stirring citizen who did so much in an 
early day for our city. The first brick building was 
put up by Charley Davis, and is still standing on the 
corner opposite Mr. Straight's residence on Main street 
Mr. Child's building has been transplanted within a 
-few years to the lot westward of Levi Page's cottage 
house, to make room for Abbot & Knisely's brick 
block. 

Mr. Rice's cement store did not last but a few years 
in our Iowa winds, for it soon cracked, and went 
into disintegration and ruin. The two-story house 
now occupied by Mr. Iloffman was one of the first 
dwelling houses. 



86 IOWA. 

BIRTH AND DEATHS. 

The first white child born in Marshalltown, was 
Adrian Anson, son of Henry Anson, Esq., in 1851. 

The first funeral in the village was that of a little 
daughter belonging to Mr. Silas Chorn, on the 10th 
of August, 1853. It was a gloomy hour to the family, 
for there was scarcely a word of ceremony — they 
parted the wild grass and the yellow autumn asters at 
the corner of Jack Braddy's farm, with no prayer or 
death -song, but laid the little one to sleep in a pine 
coffin till the prophesied bright morn of the future. On 
the 10th of September following, her sister, a sweet child 
of seven years, was placed beside her in the same prim- 
itive manner. There was not a professing Christian in 
the neighborhood. At this funeral, Mrs. John Smith, 
mother of Mrs. Ralls, remarked she could not rest 
easy thus buried, but in the following January, she 
was interred in the same way. Mr. Caleb Braddy 
also buried a child the next spring without a word of 
ceremony, no shroud, nothing but its little calico slip 
for its grave cerements, and they drove away to the 
spot where the others found a resting place at a quick 
pace, and the last rites were soon despatched by the 
family. 

WEDDING. 

The first wedding here was a double one, and a 
joyful day it proved to the young couples, for they 
went down to Timber Creek, had a good supper, 
and came back to town in a two-horse buggy iu 
great state. Everybody was on the lookout to see 
them return. The happy duos were Miles Rice and 
Miss Anson ; Mr. Horace Anson and Miss E. 
Smith. This was on the 17th of September, 1854. 
In the same fall, old Mr. Rice started up a couple of 
deer near Linn Creek, turning them westward they 
took a gallop down Main street, printing their cunning 






MARSHALL COUNTY. 87 

little hoofs on the future mart of business. Many 
deers promenade there yet, but are not quite so shy. 

PEIMITIVE LIVING. 

Mr. Edw. Willigrod came in 1851 and built his cabin 
upon the site of Doctor Statler's present home. There 
was not a nail in it, and the slabs which covered the 
roof blew off one night in a terrible storm, and the 
family were obliged to rouse up in the pitchy darkness 
and find out the extent of the programme arranged 
by the storm king. Down went the chimney and 
away flew the chairs which set outside of the house, 
it being too small to hold the furniture and beds. This 
storm also blew down a house belonging to Mr. Web- 
ster which was in process of erection. 

Mr. David Parret's family lived in the back room 
of the store occupied by Mr. Parret. It was a kitchen, 
parlor, music room, and dormitory for a family of seven 
persons. As these pioneers now occupy splendid 
residences, they can well laugh over their former mis- 
haps. Many others lived in the same manner. 

SABBATH SCHOOLS. 

A Sunday School was organized this summer, 
with Mr. Yeamans as superintendent and John Kelly 
as librarian. This little nursery of the church counted 
but seven members at first. Father Dunton and Mr. 
Hoffman were often seen there, and almost everybody 
in the little town labored more or less for it, regardless of 
sect It held sessions for sometime, but finally went 
down, and the effects were turned over to the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

SINGING SCHOOL. 

The first singing class in the town, was taught by 
Mr. Childs, composed of young folks, although some 
were "keeping company" and generally "sparkin'" 



88 IOWA. 

Siuiday nights, so that they were learning lessons of 
Cupid,' as well as the " do, re." One chap got jealous, 
and threatened to horsewhip the teacher if he inter- 
fered with some arrangements he had made with his 
sweetheart. 

After this school, in 1853, Mr. Childs sold out the 
most of his claim to Mr. Webster, who was an excel- 
lent man, very benevolent, gave city lots away to poor 
men, and died in 1863, much lamented. 

Mr. Childs became discouraged and went to Iowa 
City. He was sadly missed in the little village, and 
often regrets his " change of base," as his claim is 
now the center of the world. 

The sino^ino; school had no leader until Professor 
Heighton came a year or two afterward. 

Music was often enjoyed as one of the fine arts at 
the social gathering, and in little expeditions to the 
forest for berries and wild apples, the voices of sing- 
ing boys and girls rang out on the summer air. We 
record a laughable affair which we name the 

BLACKBEKRY HUNT. 

There had been rumors of fruit across the river, 
so Mrs. Willigrod, Mrs. Bissell and a lew others started 
out with a team, Mr. Pratt as driver. Mrs. Willigrod 
prudently put on a pair of her husband's boots for fear 
of snakes. On arriving at the canoe the whole party 
arranged themselves with Mrs. Willigrod in the stern. 
They amused each other by laughing and singing, also 
by plashing water on Mrs." W. She, to avenge her- 
self, threw many handfuls from the river into their faces, 
but just as the boat struck the opposite bank, in 
reaching to give them a final baptism she fell back- 
ward into the river, hoots and all. Tlie party laughed, 
but like the frog in the fable it came very near being 
the death of her, for she rose the second time before 
the stupefied Mr. Pratt could rescue her from the peril- 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 89 

ous situation. Coming out of the water like a drowned 
kitten, she was glad to make her way home without 
any blackberries. Mrs. Willigrod has such a vein of 
genial humor, one enjoys an hour of her experiences 
in border life. 

We cannot chronologically arrange many things 
illustrating the pioneer times, but in this connection 
we mention a 

TEA DRINKING 

At Mr. Sylvanus Rice's hotel, when the chamber floors 
were not laid, or the partitions up. All the ladies in 
town were there, and Mrs. Rice had a quilt in the 
frames. Mrs. Calvin Straight wore a very pretty black 
and white gingham, and one of the neighbors hung 
back and would not go, for Mrs. S. was dressed so finely, 
that it "shamed her calico," she remarked. Tiiiswas 
before the age of hoops, waterfalls, seventy-five dollar 
dresses, etc., which we see at the tea-parties of to-day. 
Among the ladies present, was Mrs. Polly Gillespie 
of the M. E. Church, who came in the spring of 1854. 
There was also Mrs. Oviatt, who died not long after. 
Mrs. Henry Anson, whom everybody loved and ad- 
mired, also Mrs. Willigrod and Mrs.' Bissell. It was 
a happy day, but alas! hostess, and more than 
half of her guests, have gone to the land of forget- 
ful ness. 

Mrs. Rice was an excellent woman, and her exem- 
plary life gave no opportunity for criticism; when 
she died she had not an enemy in the world ; and the 
same may be said of her daughter, Mrs. Anson. 

FOURTH OF JULY. 

The first celebration of our nation's birth day held 
in the county was on the public square in Marshall- 
town in 1853. Invitations were extended throughout 
the Iowa valley, and as many as could availed them- 



90 IOWA. 

selves of the opportunity to recognize this anniversary 
of the Eepublic. There was a large bower built of 
green waving branches, the stariy flag waving gaily 
over all ; tables were spread with all the delicacies 
that could be obtained, and everybody wore a joyous 
look, for the guests were splendidly entertained ; the 
citizens having a sharp eye on the county seat, as well 
as their patriotism, felt it their duty to welcome all 
with smiles and cheers. An old lady was present by 

the name of ; on hearing Doctor Bissell, who was 

chief marshal, call for cheers, she shoved a young girl 
out of a chair very suddenly, with " Don't ye hear 
them call for cheers f Grit up, aint ye no manners ! " 

Mr. Atwater, the young lawyer of Marietta, deliv- 
ered the oration, and the singing class of Mr. Childs 
gave the crowd, " Hail Columbia," in fine style. Mrs. 
Choate, then a little girl in the choir, was obliged 
to stand upon a box, so that her head should be level 
with the rest of the soprano singers. 

Many of the visitors were loaded with goodies on 
their return home, filling red and yellow.cotton hand- 
kerchiefs and tin buckets ; some coming twenty 
miles. 

The lady committees, which comprised the most 
of the women in town, saw the sunset, very much 
fatigued. Old Mrs. Rice trimmed the cake as happy 
as at a wedding; Mrs. Straight remembers filling 
a clothes basket full of good things for the table, 
and many others wrought hard and gave much for the 
same object 

CONCERT. 

Pursuing the same subject of amusements, without 
reference to dates, we note the fact, that the first 
public concert given in Marshalltown was by a sing- 
ing class trained by Professor Heighton. The cho- 
russes were sung by the whole class, the solos, duos 
and quartettes were rendered by the beautiful Miss 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 91 

Cleavers, twin sisters ; Mrs. Andrews and Miss E. 
Hopkins as tlie alto. Professor Heighton played the 
accompaniments upon a melodeon with his own mu- 
sical grace of to-day, and the audience were delighted 
with the entertainment. 

There were no librettos or opera glasses then in the 
audience. Harry Gerhart, our able county treasurer, 
played the violin and sang bass in fine style. It was 
a pleasant affair to all concerned. Professor Heighton 
has done much to elevate the standard of music here, 
having organized all the choirs in the city churches 
excepting the Disciples. Prof Montgomery and lady, 
Mrs. McClure, and Miss Nettie Cole, gifted singers 
among us came much later. Miss S. Montgomery has 
assisted Prof. Hughes, a blind musician, through a 
series of successful concerts in Wisconsin and North- 
ern Iowa. 

But we turn a leaf backward on our record to 1852, 
and talk of our 

PIONEER MERCHANTS. 

We have mentioned that the first store was built 
and filled with goods by Wells Eice, Esq. Mr. Pratt, 
member of a firm from Iowa City, also sold goods 
here ; he is principally remembered as having a huge 
shock of red hair, and being an easy sort of man. Mr. 
E. Willigrod, from Mansfield, Ohio, came in July, 1854, 
bringing a small stock into the little shop now occu- 
pied by a gansmith, east of J. L. Williams' residence. 
At this time there were only seven respectable build- 
ings ; a weekly mail, often delayed, and no mode of 
transit except across the horrible sloughs. But with 
prophetic foresight, these merchants struggled on, be- 
lieving in the future of Marshall county. Mr. Willi- 
grod promised his wife when they drove into the little 
hamlet that she would see the cars in ten years. Sure 
enough, in nine years they whistled through a city. 
Mr. Pratt became discouraged, and left. A Mr. Young 



92 IOWA. 

came in the fall and sold a few goods in tlie building 
once occupied by Mrs. Holt as a millinery shop. Mr. 
Enos Hoes, previous to this, built the first frame store, 
at Dr. Cummin2:s' corner. All the lumber and nails 
of the building were brought from Eock Island. In 
partnership with him, was his brother. Job C. Hoes, 
of Chicago, and after trading awhile they sold out to 
C. B. Straight. 

Selling on credit, it was a matter of some doubt 
whether merchandising would be a success in the long 
run. Mr. Webster, we will remark, was buying and 
selling real estate this same fall. Considerable emi- 
gration came into the county and town. Mr. West- 
cott, from Maine, one of the pioneers, bought three 
acres of Mr. Webster, also a little house of Charley 
Smith. 

In the fall, the house now occupied by S. S. Miller, 
was built by Mr. Yeamans, and Mr. Utz's present home ; 
the frame buildings now numbered eighteen, all told. 

As the rivalry with Marietta was constantly kept 
up, and the stakes set here for a county seat by the bosh 
commissioners, the spires and turrets of another 
Chicago rose before these energetic and ambitious men. 
Mr. Andrews, Mr. Crowder and some others, who have 
gone away since this season we have noted, played quite 
an important part in the early growth of our city. We 
do not know the exact time, but Mr. John Kelly built 
the shoe store now occupied by G. W. Peet, and had 
quite an establishment for early times. Mr. Hoes, as 
we have intimated, got tired of selling goods, and sold 
to Mr. Straight, who, in company with old Mr. Rice, 
had built the two-story frame, a little west, and had a 
small town hall above, where dancing parties often 
met, singing classes held jubilees, and the Musquaquas 
had pow-wows. 

In time this building changed hands into the pos- 
session of Mr. M. Anson, who filled up with liquors 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 93 

and groceries. Mr. Willigrod built a store between the 
corner and this, now owned by David Woods ; he had 
also drugs and patent medicines, sold dry goods, too, 
and Dr. Glick coming soon after, we hear of the firm of 

GLICK & WILLIGROD, 

In 1856. They were very genial and pleasant in their 
business relations, and from small beginnings have 
amassed fine fortunes, and occupy a prominent position 
in society. Dr. Glick practiced medicine in the city 
in early times, but, it seems, did not like the pro- 
fession and was appointed postmaster, holding the posi- 
tion for some years. He is also our school fund commis- 
sioner; and without doubt has the most artistically 
arranged drug store in the State. One could easily 
imbibe all sorts of vile nostrums amid so much beauty 
and taste. After Dr. Glick went into the drug store, 
Mr. Willigrod associated with him Mr. Louis Willi- 
gi'od, also from Mansfield, Ohio, and was found in 
the first brick building on the north side of the 
public square, built by him at considerable cost. 

In the year 1854, Mr. Wells Eice took the dry goods 
store of Mr. Hoes and sold goods on Dr. Cummings' 
corner, then the center of the town. Calico was a 
"bit per yard." "Bit a yard," inquired an Eastern 
lady at this time, " What kind of an animal is a bit, 
Mr. Eice ? " The Hawkeye merchant, with great boii 
hommie^ explained that a "bit," in commercial par- 
lance, was a shilling. But Mr. Eice has grown 
wealthy, selling calicoes at " a bit a yard." 

But we will cross the street from the Cummings' 
block, and in the little building, west of Bishop's 
blacksmith shop, had we looked into the large windows 
just eleven years ago, w^e might have seen Mr. Joseph 
Smith, now a merchant of Eldora, selling boots and 
shoes of his own manufacture, and a few from Iowa 
City of Eastern make. 



94 IOWA. 

DAVID E. PAKRET, 

Now one of the directors of the National Bank, and 
a successful merchant, sold goods in a little building 
since used as a stable. It was westward from Mr. 
Smith's shoe store, and then on the fashionable side 
of the street. 

" West End " was once the center of trade, but after 
Mr. Woodbury built his brick block and the Court 
House was finished, the star of empire in Marshall- 
town business rose where all other stars do, in the 
east, though there may be a retrocession when Mr. 
Rice finishes his new brick bloek. We will mention, 
en passant^ that Mr. Ambruster had a shoe store also 
at the West End. 

In the old stone shop where Mr. Dean works in 
paints and oils, delved as the first blacksmith, a Mr. 
Hill, who has gone to the " other shore." 

Dr. Bissell was the first practicing physician, hav- 
ing come to Marshalltown in 1853. He was shot 
some years ago by a Mr. Coble, through jealousy. 
There were some grounds for the homicide, and Coble 
served a few years in the State prison and then went 
into the army. 

Esq. Gregg is claimed as the senior lawyer, and 
barring some errors in politics is an honor to the bar, 
and an excellent citizen. Dr. Taylor came about the 
same time, and the two boarded at the Marshall House 
as chums and fellow bachelors. 

After Mr. Rice built the Marshall House, which, by 
the way, has received several additions to the original 
structure, he rented to Mr. Morrison of Michigan, 
who kept the hotel sometime, then sold to Mr. L. 
Anson, and he sold again to Mr. H. D. Ranney in 
1859. Mr. Ranney came to Iowa, however, in 1857, 
and built the store now occupied by Mr, East as fur- 
niture rooms. It was all prairie eastward for a mile, 
and the ladies when they shopped could study land- 
scape views also. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. . 95 

Mr. Kanney's father came afterward with his fam- 
ily ; also, Mr. Leach, a brother-in-law, a very success- 
ful merchant. Mr. East, another brother-in-law, came 
later, in 1862 ; he has been of great help in the church 
and society. We cannot refrain from adding a word 
for his worthy lady who accomplished so much at the 
State Fair here. 

J. M. Sherwood, Esq., came about the year. 1857, 
also, and is well known as a pleasant, wealthy lawyer, 
giving generously to all public and private charities — 
his lady gracing the splendid Gothic residence on the 
east side of the public square. 

And Dr. Bunce seeing the community needed 
another physician, came the next year after Dr. Glide. 
He had a large practice, often riding twenty-five miles 
over the prairies. 

Mr. Gettings, from Castalia, Ohio, also added to the 
energy and activity of business in Marshalltown. 
And as we gossip of the pioneers further, we will 
notice Mr. James Hambel, who opened a grocery, and 
was in the stock and grain trade for a good many 
years. He came in the year 1857. 

MR. S. LACY, 

Long one of the most useful members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, came to Iowa in 1866 and set- 
tled on a farm, now owned by Mr. Pontius. There 
•was a cabin, but Mr. Lacy not liking to till the soil 
left the farm and came to Marshalltown in the sum- 
mer, and was soon after, we believe, in company with 
Mr. Utz, in a grocery. 

Mrs. Lacy the acknowledged leader of the haul ton 
taught the first select school in the village, and a very 
good " school marm " she made, too, the citizens val- 
uing her services highly in that direction. 

Mr. Chester Heald came earlier, in 1855 ; and it is 
almost superfluous to speak of many of these promi- 



96 IOWA. 

Dent and useful citizens, they are so well known for 
every virtue. Mr. William Johnson is another good 
man, one of the first blacksmiths in the city — has 
grown wealthy in working at the forge. Mr. Levi 
Page who buckled the first harness together for our 
markts, now at the head of an extensive establish- 
ment, came here in 1857. The next year. Dr. Statler, 
from Mansfield, Ohio, went into partnership with 
John Wasson, Esq., in a drugstore — the first in town. 
They occupied the building now used by Duguid & 
Fuller. 

About this time came John Fisher and opened a 
dry goods store soon after he became a citizen. Mr. 
Fisher had a good deal of public spirit in connection 
with churches and schools, although he was a little 
arbitrary in matters of opinion. He was very upright 
in his dealing with his fellow men and filled the office 
of Mayor at one time. 

Mr. T. Hopkins from New York came here in 1857 
and rented the Union House from Mr. Rice, then 
opened a shoe shop. He was a good workman and an 
honest man in every sense of the word. Domestic 
troubles shortened his useful life and he died mostly of 
a broken heart, much regretted by all. Mr. Nelson 
Smith, his son-in-law, was a pleasant, genial citizen ; 
he died soon after Mr. Hopkins. 

Mr. Hogle kept a grocery these times, and was quite 
useful in the church and society. The Forneys came 
later, in 1858, we believe, and have added much to 
the energy of our city. 

Jerry, the inimitable caterer for the public tables of 
our citizens, who never had an enemy but plenty of 
friends, must not be overlooked in this connection, 
for he is too closely identified in the history of feast- 
ing and dancing — of wassail and song. He also had 
a harness shop some years ago, and now is in an exten- 
sive produce business. 

Mr. Webster, in the summer of 1856, sold a great 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 97 

many lots and laid the foundation of his large fortune 
during that time. Marshalltown had, perhaps, the 
greatest accession of population this year than any 
other 5^ear in her history, excepting since the war. 
The next 3'ear, Mr. William Smith, an Englishman, 
laid out quite a garden and nurserj^, to supply the 
town with vegetables and fruit. 

New comers were welcomed then, for every one 
counted against Marietta, so Miles Eice is reported to 
have said. There was no gradation yet in social rank ; 
all were neighbors, friends. Mrs. J. M. Sherwood 
brought the first piano to the village, which epoch was 
marked by a profound sensation. 

Mr. John Utz came in 185 fi ; had a grocery, one of 
the best in the place. He was a prominent member 
of the Lutheran church. Mr. Utz is now at the head 
of one of the finest marble manufacturing establish- 
ments in the West. His monument to the lamented 
Deloss is a splendid affair, made of the purest Italian 
marble, and will cost nearly a thousand dollars. 

In 1858 came Mi*. George Weille from Illinois, and 
while waiting for the roads to get better to continue a 
journe}^, was induced to remain in the new town and 
opened the first jewelry store. Since that time, in 
company with Messrs. Gettings, Beckwith ^nd others, 
he went to Colorado and amassed a splendid fortune 
in mining claims, buildings, etc. Mr. Weille and his 
charmins^ wife who came from merrie Euoland, will 
be sadl}^ missed as they go to their mountain home 
across the Nebraska. 

As one strolled down Main street in the summer of 
1858, he would not see all the faces then that we 
study there now. Many have emigrated to Colorado 
and other mining countries, the war took the bravest 
and the best, while a few, careworn and furrowed, yet 
plod on in the treadmill of business. Mr, William 
Bremmer who divided the honors of County Surveyor 
with Thomas Mercer, Esq., of Marietta, is one of these 
9 



98 IOWA. 

last mentioned. He is still seen with bis compass and 
chain in our streets. 

HOX. H. C. HENDERSON, 

Who ably represented this county in the State Senate 
for two sessions of the legislature, came also about 
this time. Mr. Henderson is a brother to Brig. Gen. 
Henderson of Knox county, Illinois; is of good stock, 
and has been connected with so many public enter- 
prises of the county, that his history is intimately 
interwoven with it. The Methodist Episcopal church, 
the temperance reform, all benevolent and Christian 
charities, are indebted to Mr. Henderson for a ready 
assistance. He is a lawyer of great ability, ofttimes elo- 
quent, but is generally sought after in counsel, because 
of his spotless reputation as to honesty, etc. 

Mr. Calvin W. Taft, now the owner of the splendid 
nursery started by Mr. Woodbury, came earlier, in the 
summer of 1854. Mr. Taft brought from the Western 
Eeserve, (the land of cheese-tubs and abolitionists) 
that earnest love of freedom which characterizes the 
Buckeye Yankees. Mr. T. w^as Justice before Mr. 
Yeamans, who, by the way, made an excellent officer 
both in church and state. 

Perry C. Holcomb also came from the Eeserve and 
owned the first hardware store, in the building now 
occupied by M. Eosenbaum. Mr. Holcomb was young 
then, and has established a good business, is quite 
wealthy, and with his agreeable wife, is found among 
the elite of the city. 

Mi\ E. Brooks, our capable and efficient chief 
marshal on public occasions, came in 1856, if we 
mistake not. He is a graceful equestrian for a man of 
his 3^ears. We wish we had space for a more length- 
ened sketch of the old settlers. 










Of-- 






MARSHALL COUNTY. 99 



HON. G. M. WOODBURY 



Came to Marslialltown in 1854, from Peoria, Illinois, 
and moved into an old building now occupied by Rev. 
Mr. Dunton, although it has been completely renovated 
since. This house had but two rooms ; there were no 
lumber or shingles to be got, so Mr. Woodbury put on 
a cloth roof. Mr. Pratt and family coming into the 
town, and having no house, it was arranged that they 
should take one of the rooms, leaving small quarters 
for either household. 

A pleasing incident occurred soon after their 
arrival at their new home. So many settlers coming 
in, the supply of provisions was less than the demand, 
but some enterprising farmer below, had brought in 
a wagon load of slaughtered hogs ; Mr. Woodbury 
bought three, but on bringing them home, where 
should he put them? He was in a worse quandary 
than the man who bought the elephant ! no cellar, 
woodshed, meat-house or barn. Finally, Mrs. W. pro- 
posed the old joiner's bench that lay out of doors — 
place them in it, heads and points, and cover with the 
wagon sheet, which all emigrants had at the time. 
Often in the winter, the wolves would come in the 
night for a snack, notwithstanding the formidable 
whizzing of an old rifle that Frederick and John 
(sons of Mr. Woodbury) kept standing by the bed- 
post. When the family wanted meat, they were 
obliged to whack off with an ax the frozen slices. 

John Woodbury made the model, about one foot in 
length, of the first steam engine ever made in the Iowa 
valley, working industriously under the canvas roof, 
with such light only as came through the cloth. He 
should have taken place beside Watt and other youth- 
ful geniuses who have wrought like the Cyclops of 
old, to forge thunderbolts in solitude and alone. But 
we wish, more particularly, to speak of his honored 
father, who has done more than any other man to 



100 IOWA. 

develop tlie resources of Marshall Count}^, and, in fact, 
for a long way up the Iowa valley. He built the fifst 
grist mill, just north of Marshalltown ; the people 
being obliged to go to Cedar Rapids or Oskaloosa to 
mill, and when we consider the dreadful condition of 
the roads in early times, we may appreciate something 
of the favor that was conferred on the inhabitants by 
the establishment of this enterprise. Any failure of 
the " grist " brought corn boiled in the grain for bread, 
or else pounded in a mortar for that purpose. He 
afterwards built mills at Xenia and Alden on the Iowa 
river, just over tlie Hardin line, and sold flour to gro- 
cers and others "on tick," supplying the whole north- 
western part of the State for some years. On his 
rounds for collection of these flour bills and other 
business, he relates a funny scene in which his lady 
and himself were actors. Mrs. Woodbury accompa- 
nied him through a trip, and on coming to Owl Lake, 
in Wright county, they found a slough that looked 
dubious, but Mr. W. thought it could be crossed with- 
out much trouble. He had a single horse and buggy ; 
after going a little way, down went the horse and 
vehicle into the mud and water. Here was a fix, no 
passing team, no house within five or six miles. 
Pretty soon Mr. W. succeeded in getting the horse 
unharnessed, and as every one knows, he never turns 
hackwsird, in due time the animal found himself on 
firm ground in the right direction. Next, the baggage 
was landed safely on the other side. Mr. Woodbury 
having removed his coat and boots, was by this time 
in good working condition. Then, how to get the 
wife across ! Finally, after much coaxing she was 
carried over, papoose fashion, upon the broad shoulders 
of her doughty knight, and then to crown the after- 
noon's work, he placed himself between the shafts of 
the buggy and drew it across in triumph, j^retty well 
exhausted by that time. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 101 

But, perhaps, with the court house enterprise, Mr. 
W. showed as much backbone as anywhere in his 
career. After the election of 1856 it was thought 
best to build a town hall, with vaults, jnrj box, and 
county offices, so that if " the majority " could be pre- 
vailed upon to vote for Marshalltown as the county 
seat, everything would be ready for occupancy, and 
call it a court house. Every citizen of the village 
was asked to help ; some gave but ten dollars and that 
in work. The financial crash of 1857 coming on 
made matters worse. But the pertinacious " never- 
give-up" Mr. Woodbury, with Kice, Dr. Glick and 
Anson, kept to work, rolled up their sleeves, and used 
the hammer and saw with the workmen. Borrowing 
eight hundred dollars of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and with their subscription paper, they soon 
had the building on its foundations before Marietta was 
aware of the project. And w^hen the flxrmers came 
into town to trade, many helped tend mason a little 
time, or drew a load of brick, ete. 

How handsomely the voters of the right stripe were 
treated ! Many a calico dress, and packages of tobacco, 
dried apples, and tea, found their way into the homes 
of the faithful — to Marshalltown. 

When the summer swallows came to build their 
nests in the May-time of 1858 the eaves were ready, 
and the temple of Justice lifted its portals for the 
Court to enter at its May term, Judge Thompson pre- 
siding, had the majesty of the law been maintained 
by Marietta. 

But it was mainly in connection with the early exten- 
sion of the Cedar Eapids Eailroad that Marshall 
County has great need of gratitude to Mr. Woodbury. 
It w^as due to his energy and the liberality of our 
citizens, that the line was extended so near the city, 
and came to suchj rapid completion after the project 
was talked of by capitalists. At the time of the pre- 
liminary survej^, he raised a subscription (to carry 



102 IOWA. 

forward the enterprise) of seven hundred dollars, 
some of whicli was given in sums of twenty-five 
cents. It yvixs tlie widow's mite, for many were poor 
but extremely anxious the road should be built. 
Some would have scorned the help of twenty-five 
cent men — not so Mr. Woodbury. The survey 
was made, and he was elected vice-president and 
director of the road, and held these important offices 
for four years, when he resigned after seeing the line 
built through the county. 

Mr. AYoodbury donated freely for a survey of the 
Marshalltown, Newton and Pella Eailroad, to be built 
through the Chicauqua and Iowa "divides," but the 
project has not met with success. Not only in rail- 
roads, banks, mills, and factories, but in the benefi- 
cent charities of the day, we honor the subject of 
this sketch. 

Mr. W. was elected one of the earl}^ trustees of the 
Orphans' Home, and through his influence we had the 
credit of the State Fair in 1865. The churches of 
Marshalltown have all received tokens of his generos- 
ity, and in many instances the lowly and destitute 
have appealed to his aid and he has not been slow in 
response. 

About the time of finishing the court house, the 
enterprise called into existence the first organization 
of ladies, governed by their own officers, and named 

THE BELL SOCIETY. 

They met afternoons at private houses, and had a 
good time with their sewing and chit-chat. Mrs. S. 
Lacy was elected president, Mrs. Chester Heald, sec- 
retary, Mrs. P. C. Holcomb, treasurer, and Mrs. Lizzie 
Smith, corresponding secretary. We suppose the 
latter office was filled for the purpose of obtaining a 
bell by correspondence, at Troy, or some other place 
where they were manufactured. Mrs. Smith says. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 103 

however, the correspondence connected with the 
Society, was not very " hefty." 

We hear of a little gossip from their chatting, that has 
floated down from the past, which we will write down 
for them to laugh over to-day. One of their number 
had been raised in Baltimore and not being acquainted 
with garden truck in its normal condition, took a hoe 
and went out to get some cucumbers. She returned 
to the house wdiere she was boarding, and reported a 
woful lack of cucumbers, for she had dug up three 
hills and could not find a single one ! She sup- 
posed they grew like potatoes ! 

The members of this society paid five dollars fine 
if the hostess had more than one kind of cake or fruit 
for supper. Quite a premium on hospitality in those 
days. 

At one of the literary societies which had an ex- 
istence about this time, Mrs. Lacy read an essay on 
the prospects of the growing city. She also avowed 
the purpose of the ladies to help finish the court 
house in time for the election, that is, they would use 
hammer and nails, planes and saws, upon the temple 
of Justice. It was Juno nerving Eurystheus to diffi- 
cult labors. Mr. "Woodbury took them at their word, 
and ordered them out on Monday to take their places 
with the volunteer workmen. We are painfully con- 
scious of Mr. Woodbury's want of sagacity, which 
has always marked his career, with this exception. 
Had he named any other day but Monday, the ladies 
would have generously responded to the call, for the 
ladies then did not scruple to overlook the wash-tub. 
The result was, but a few responded. After this, when 
the public square was to be fenced, they enclosed 
three sides, buying all the lumber, nails, etc. ; and 
in carrying on their enterprises, they had 



104 IOWA. 



TAMBOS, 



As tliey were called by a Marshall lady tlirougli some 
inadvertence of memory. "Tambos!" " Tambos !" slie 
repeated, " Are tliey good to eat ? " Many liad never 
seen tableaux and knew nothing of scenic effect, and 
pious people in the churches talked of the rigors of dis- 
cipline if they were repeated, denouncing them as au in- 
cipient theatre. A large fund was raised from the enter- 
tainment, and it passed off pleasantly to all concerned. 
An incident occurred just before the performance 
began. Mr. Wasson in arranging the curtains was 
behind them, and a light showed him full length, 
with his hair sticking up as if in need of a pair of 
shears. ^' Tambos, Number 1," whispered Pete Hep- 
burn to a lady ; as the head kept bobbing from side 
to side like a jumping jack, the candles being in just 
the right position to make a really laughable scene 
Mr. Wasson, now one of our dignified merchants and 
a perfect gentleman, perhaps may have forgotten his 
role in the performance. 

In 1858, came Mr. M. Rosenbaum, one of our fore- 
most business men, and an excellent critic in litera- 
ture and art, and with his intelligent lady made quite 
an addition to the circle of friendly intercourse and 
enjoyment He was from Mansfield, Ohio. His wife 
died a few years ago, and he has since married a lady 
from the sunnj^ South, of most agreeable manner and 
charming ways. 

Wcj must not overlook a brave soldier, that served 
three years in the army, and has done what he could 
for the Church — Mr. A. L. Yertz. He married a 
step-daughter of Mr. John Smith, who was quite an 
old settler, and lived on the Taft place, as it is now 
called. He is Judge Smith's father, and came here 
about 1852. 

In the fall of 1859, the market for grain was so 
depressed — corn worth only ten cents per bushel — 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 105 

that Mr. Woodbury concluded to start a distillery to 
relieve the farmers. In October, he sent to Dubuque, 
by Mr. G. Hartwell, his engineer and master workman, 
for his castings. On reaching Union Grove, near the 
northeast corner of the county, he slipped accidentally 
under his wagon which was heavily loaded with flour, 
and was fatally injured, so that he died in a day or 
two after the occurrence. He left a widow with six 
little children to buffet w^ith western life. But admi- 
rably Mrs. H, has performed her duties, as every 
citizen can testify. Mr. Woodbury only kept the dis- 
tillery in operation about a year, we are glad to record, 
and there has never been another here. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The pioneer church planted her standards early in 
the county, and the itinerant was seen with his Bible 
and saddle-bags, soon after the sound of the swinging 
ax and hum of bees marked the presence of the hardy 
emigrant. In 1851, Kev. Mr. Corkhill, and Kev. S. 
Dunton, familiarly called Father Dunton, occupied the 
Iowa City pulpit, but being aware of the needs of 
Central Iowa for missionary work. Father Dunton was 
persuaded to undertake the enterprise of founding the 
Marshall Mission. Late one night he reached a cabin 
on Linn Creek occupied by Mr. Ealls, chilled and 
hungry by his long ride. After enjoying Mr. R's 
hospitality, he attempted to go onward to Marietta, 
but after traveling perhaps twenty miles and trying to 
cross the creek, the high water having swung the only 
bridge from its position, he was obliged to return to 
Iowa City until a more favorable opportunity. Late 
in the spring he came back and organized a class or 
rather the first church in Marshall county, at the Mr. 
Griffiths we have already mentioned, at the corner of 
Le Grand. We think there were ten persons in the 
class. Afterward, about 1853) he organized another 
10 



^. 



106 low^. 

class, in Marshalltown, at the school-room in a house 
owned by Christopher Ford, and when the infant 
church was moved into the frame school-house, now 
used as the primary department of the public school, 
it fell under the care of Eev. Mr. Armstrong. But its 
progress was slow, and in the spring of 1857 it num- 
bered only thirty members. Alas I too many asso- 
ciate their worship with the splendid frescoes, the rich 
music of the organ, the eloquent tones of the preacher, 
forgetting that He is near, even in the small crowded 
room with rude pulpit and benches ; yet the early 
Methodists had nothing of this. It was for a later age 
to find out that there is an aristocracy among the follow- 
ers of the humble carpenter and fishermen of Galilee ; 
that to turn up their noses at the representatives of 
these humble trades, is better than to wash the disciples' 
feet at His command. How Barbara Heck and Mrs. 
Fletcher would sigh to walk up the aisles of some of 
our fashionable churches I 

But we return to the days of Eev. Mr. Stewart, and 
the quaint, yet forcible Br. Shinn, who was once 
appointed temporary chaplain of the House of Repre- 
sentatives. We insert the prayer upon that occasion. 
" Great God, bless the young and growing State of 
Iowa, bless her senators and representatives, bless her 
State officers, give us a sound currency, pure water, 
and undefiled religion, for Christ's sake. Amen." 

Then we hear of Rev. Mr. Babcock in 1859 ; after- 
,ward Rev. K Truesdall who went in 1861 as Chaplain 
to the Second Iowa Cavalry. At the time of his pas- 
torate there was a great deal of dissension and bitter 
feeling, many were suspended, and it was an hour of 
deep gloom. The town had borrowed their building 
fund, so it was necessary to meet in the court house, 
the school room being too small. The Upper Iowa 
Conference met there in 1861, Bishop Scott presiding, 
who always seemed to us a representative of St. John, 
so sweet and mild is he in his manner to the brethren. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 107 

In this conference year, the pastoral mantle fell upon 
Rev. Mr. Fuller, a popular preacher, and Rev. J. Ran- 
kin was presiding elder. In September, 1862, Rev. 
Mr. Thompson was appointed for a year, and the 
church very slowly made headway agamst the hosts 
of darkness, and not till the second year of the good 
Br. Rankin as pastor, did the noble old church come 
from under the cloud, " fair as the sun, clear as the 
moon, and terrible as an army with banners." 

They, at this time, finished and furnished the chapel 
commenced in 1861, and since, under the ministrations 
of Rev. Mr. Kendig, and the gifted, scholarly Prof 
Fellows, the church has taken her place in the front 
of the battle, having a good choir and organ, a mem- 
bership of 180, pays a salary of $1,200 per annum to 
the clergyman, besides donating largely to charitable 
objects. There is a Dorcas Society connected with the 
church, Mrs. M. A. Boardman, president, and Miss M. 
Hickox, secretary. 

CAMP MEETING. 

The first camp fires ever built by the Marshall Mis- 
sion flamed through the forest near Griffith's mill on 
Timber creek. Here, with no rustling silks or "jew- 
els' shine," the old-fashioned Methodists from far and 
near, met in prayer and praise. Father Dun ton took the 
lead and with another worthy brother carried on a 
very good work, with nothing to mar their sweet enjoy- 
ment of Christian love and duty. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church in Marshall county 
has a membership of nearly eight hundred, five cir- 
cuits with efficient pastors, and a parochial care of 
Sabbath Schools and " classes " at different points. 
Rev. J. S. Edwards, a young local preacher of great 
revival influence, has organized several classes and 
does glorious work in the vineyard of the Lord. 



108 IOWA. 

A NEW SCHOOL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

AYas organized in 1858, and met in the court house, 
with Rev. N. Gordon as pastor. There was a little 
handful of the members — only nine. Mrs. Gerhart, a 
member of the Dutch Reformed Church, gave in her 
letter to make the number ecclesiastically complete. 
Mr. Gordon was a good man, right on the essential 
question of slavery which then agitated all religious 
bodies, but was not popular as a sensation preacher, 
and he remained only a year or so. Mr. John Fisher 
and IST. Gillespie were the iirst deacons. Alter Mr. 
Gor don left, President Geiger of the Albion College 
preached occasionally, until 1862, when Rev. Mr. 
Deloss came to the town on a visit, and was prevailed 
upon to remain and minister to the wants oi the church. 
And nobly he responded to the call, urged a closer 
union in spiritual matters, and the erection ot a church 
structure ; he then appealed to every citizen of Mar- 
shalltown to give something to help lay its founda- 
tion and build thereon. He succeeded admirably, 
and the result was, that this church has one of the 
finest edifices in the State. Beautifully frescoed and 
painted, warmed by furnaces and lit by splendid chan- 
deliers, a good organ and choir, and a flourishing Sab- 
bath School, with only a small debt to detract from its 
financial success. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gettings were among its first members, 
and still mingle with a large and fashionable congre- 
gation. Mrs. Gerhart is not living. Mr. Deloss 
did not live to see the end of his great work, and after 
a long and painful illness, just as the sun was tinting 
with its evening glories the spires and roof of his 
loved church, he sank to rest, praying sadly and sweet, 
"Thy will be done." 

We never shall forget his masterly effort at the death 
of the martyred Lincoln ; the pure diction, the forcible 
language, all told the orator, the patriot and the Chris- 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 109 

tian. It was nearly his last public effort ; worn down 
with anxieties for the church and nation, his vigorous 
nature sank under it, and he sleeps in the cemetery 
that he was mainly instrumental in beautifying and 
ornamenting as befitting a burial place for the dead in 
our midst. The church is now under the pastoral 
care of Eev. Mr. Kellogg, a man ably fitted to fill the 
place of the lamented Deloss. The church building 
was commenced in 1863 and finished in 1865. 



LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

We may state that this organization is connected 
with that of Albion, generally, alternating public ser- 
vice with them. Prof. Geiger preached here, also the 
eloquent Schaeffer, the Eev. Messrs. Sternberg and 
Fair, and latterly the very classical Rev. W. Lepley. 
Their church building was commenced in 1861, the first 
in the city, but was not finished until 1864. It saw 
a deal of financial trouble, but by the united eftbrt of 
Mr. Schaeffer and people it was nearly cleared from 
debt at its dedication in January, 1865. It saw great 
prosperity while under his guidance, but dissensions 
creeping in very stealthily at first, they are now without 
pastor or choir, and have rented their beautiful church 
to the 

BAPTISTS, 

Who were organized here in 1863 with sixteen mem- 
bers, meeting for worship at the court house, and 
Woodbury's Hall. Rev. Mr. Willy first, then Rev. 
N. Holmes from Webster City, have been the pastors 
of this church. They have a membership of over 
seventy, a splendid edifice in process of erection, 
which will be finished the coming season, and a Sab- 
bath School of sixty scholars. 



110 IOWA. 

DISCIPLES CHURCH, 

Sometimes called the Campbellite Baptists, have been 
holding meetings for two years in the court house, 
Eev. M. W. McCondell, pastor. 

Their Sabbath School numbers fifty pupils, and the 
membership is constantly increasing in numbers and 
influence. 

UNIVEESALISTS. 

Claiming for their peculiar tenets the broad and 
liberal idea of the Fatherhood of God and brother- 
hood of man, and a practical Christianity — theirs is the 
oldest church in the city. They have no place of 
worship, excepting in the town hall of Mr. Wood- 
bury, but have purchased a lot and intend to build 
soon. Their minister. Rev. J. P. Sanford, who has 
just returned from a journey to the Holy Land, with 
sandals wet by the sacred waters of the Jordan, will 
be a power to help them in the erection of a suitable 
church edifice for the wants of a large and wealthy 
organization. 

MITE SOCIETIES, ETC. 

Every church in the city has the above connected 
with them, mostly sustained by the energies of the 
ladies, the proceeds being used as a contingent fund. 
The meetings of these societies are very pleasant and 
agreeable, especially to strangers, as we have many 
coming in. 

The Masons number about ninety. Odd Fellows, 
sixty-five, and the Good Templars, now battling 
against the enemy under the third organization, have 
a membership of seventy-five, with Mr. J. Roe as 

w. c. 

THE PRESS. 

As we have already mentioned the incidents con- 
nected with the establishing of the press at Albion and 



MARSHALL COUNTY. Ill 

Marietta, making obeisance to Prof. Wilson as the 
senior editor, we take up the thread of history where 
the Iowa Central was removed to Marshalltown, ap- 
pearing under the name of the Marshall County Times, 
with Hon. H. C. Henderson and Dr. Taylor as editors. 
This was in 1860. In the summer of 1862, Chapin 
& Co. bought the old Marietta Express office, and pub- 
lished, in Mr. John Fisher's block, a journal under the 
name of the Iowa Yalley News. This office burned 
down at the time of the great fire in the building. 
Previous to this, Mr. R H. Barnhart being the pub- 
lisher of the Times, sold out to Mr. W. H. Gallup, 
who appeared as both editor and publisher. After the 
fire. Messrs. Chapin & Co. bought out the aforesaid 
Times, and with the remnant of his last enterprise, 
started out like the fabled Phoenix into the sunshine of 
popular favor under the name of the Marshall County 
Times and News, in 1863. 

In connection with this weekly. Judge Ed. Rice 
started a daily, but after three months of existence it 
died out. 

Messrs. Carlton and Howard, partners of Chapin, 
went into the army in Capt. Woodbury's Company, 
leaving the Chapin to go on alone without the Co. 

In the summer of 1864, Barnhart Bros, established 
the Marshall County Expositor, a democratic paper, 
which was published with a moderate degree of suc- 
cess through a period of a year and six months. 

Mr. Gallup repurchased the Times office, but in a 
short time sold to J. J. Britton, Esq., of Springfield, 
III, who again sold the unlucky elephant after an 
ownership of seven weeks and sinking over three 
hundred dollars, having bought both Times and Ex- 
positor offices, and published under the name of the 
Marshalltown Union. 

The irrepressible Chapin came to Mr. Britton's rescue, 
t'lking the place of Prof T. Clarke upon the tripod,, 
who went to Chicago and w^as afterward known as the 



112 IOWA. 

author of " Sir Copp." Chapin associated with him 
George Barnhart; the firm soon doubled the subscrip- 
tion list of the re-baptized Times, and in the summer 
of 1865, they sold to H. C. Henderson, and after a 
year of successful management, the office passed into 
the hands of C. Aldrich, Esq. and H. Welsh of Web- 
ster City, and the Times waves its banners still tri- 
umphant, with the largest circulation of any county 
paper in the State. 

Messrs. Gregg (our senior lawyer), and Carlton, are 
publishing a neat reliable democratic journal, on the 
north side of the public square, yclept the Marshall 
County Advance — an excellent local sheet. 

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

Tliis organization is of recent date, but embraces 
some of the most influential citizens in the county. 
Hon. Thomas Mercer is president, and Hon. E. H. 
Chapin, secretary. Messrs. Woodbury and Aldrich 
have offered magnificent premiums in connection with 
this society. 

There is also a Young Men's Christian Association 
in progress, with Hon. H. W. Henderson as president, 
and J. A. Mabie, secretary. 

A fine debating club is in existence, whereof Mr. 
Ed. Boardman is the presiding officer, we believe. 
There is, too, a literary association with Prof. Wilson 
at its head, that has been of great benefit to the citi- 
zens of Marshalltown in introducing citizens from 
abroad, and in discussions of the questions that 
agitate society, they have been ably met by the 
members. 

AID SOCIETIES. 

After the war broke out and the soldiers needed 
sanitary supplies, there was a society organized in 
October, 1861, to aid the brave " boys in blue." 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 113 

Mrs. M. Rosenbaum was chosen president, and Miss 
Sarah Jane Howell, secretary. This was kept np 
under different officers for several years and was rather 
merged into the Orphans' Home Fair Society that 
was organized in May, 1865. This is so recent we 
have no space for its whole history, and will just note, 
that there was a great deal of hard work done, and all 
wrought as much as they were able. Perhaps the 
costliest present that any one lady gave, was the silk 
bed quilt presented by Mrs. J. M. Sherwood, which 
netted one hundred and thirty dollars. The whole 
proceeds of the Orphans' Home Fair at Marshalltown 
was sixteen thousand dollars. 

As the years rolled on, almost every enterprise here 
has received an impetus from the white hand of 
woman. In aiding churches, schools, fairs, and the 
different societies for the freedmen and soldiers, she 
has borne an honorable part. Much of the labor of 
Sabbath Schools is performed by the ladies in getting 
up entertainments, fairs, etc., for their benefit. There 
are over thirtj^ schools in the county, and that of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in Marshalltown, being 
the largest, numbers over two hundred and fifty pupils. 
It is supposed that there are nearly a thousand chil- 
dren in the Sabbath Schools of Marshall county. 

CELEBRATION OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND MISSOURI RAIL- 
ROAD. 

In March, 1863, the track being finished to Marshall- 
town, her citizens proposed to entertain the world, and 
Chicago in particular, to the best they had for good 
cheer, and with unbounded hospitalit}^ There was a 
grand supper at Woodbury's Hall, toasts were drank, 
speeches made, and all were brim full of hilarity and 
joy at the completion of the line. Among other things 
said, the Hon. H. C. Henderson reported, " that the 
cattle along the line had grown fat since the road was 



114 IOWA. 

built, the ladies were prettier, and the corn had prom- 
ised to 'grow one hundred bushels to the acre' the 
coming season.' " 

The Chicago representatives seemed delighted with 
the attentions paid them, and they returned the com- 
pliment by giving our citizens the freedom of the 
Garden City in a great measure. 

The following poem, composed and sung by Prof. 
Heighton, was an interesting feature of the celebration : 

Hurrah! for the age of progression, 

Of telegraphs, printing and steam, 
Success to each lawful profession, 

Especially those worked by steam. 



There's a price for the old farmer's turnips, 

A smile in his truth-beaming eye 
As he bids you a welcome " good morning," 

For he knows that the station is nigh. 

The merchant, the priest and mechanic, 

The doctor and lawyer, also; 
Each walks, thinks, and acts much faster, 

Eor the engine has got them in tow. 

Then join the bounding chorus. 

And let the echo be: 
The anvil, plow and engine — 

The friends of liberty. 

It was a source of gratification to all concerned 
that the pioneer road of Central Iowa was so soon to 
be linished, for it gave a great impetus to trade, as it 
was many miles in advance of any other line in the 
State towards the Missouri. Mr. Woodbury, Dr. 
Gliclv, Mr. W. Eice and H. Anson, with other promi- 
nent citizens, some who had given twenty-five cent 
subscriptions, all met in joyful conclave at the comple- 
tion of the enterprise. 

In the matter of celebrations, we take leave of the 
subject, by saying that our citizens were as happy as 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 115 

any in the republic at the taking of Richmond. Dr. 
Glick remarked, " I am full of glory ;" Chapin said, 
" My heart is too full for utterance ;" and the lamented 
Del OSS made one of the most eloquent speeches ever 
delivered in Marshall county. The whole town was 
on the sidewalk, congratulating each other — flags blos- 
somed on every sign-post, and at the eaves of mansion 
and hut ; and to have a friend in the army or wearing 
the " blue " at home, was a matter of deep joy and 
gratitude. 

A PILGRIMAGE 

From the Iowa river to the sacred Jordan, with all the 
fatigues, anxieties, and dangers from storms, Bedouins, 
and Italian banditti, has been successfully accom- 
plished by the Rev. J. P. Sanford of Marshalltown, 
the Universalist clergyman ; he also made a visit to 
the pyramids, and the sites of the ancient Thebes and 
Memphis of Egypt 

On the 16th and 17th of May, 1867, the " Holy 
Palmer " as he would have been termed in the days 
of the crusades, gave to the citizens of Marshalltown 
his impressions of Europe and Asia, which he traveled 
over, and the incidents of his journey to the interest- 
ing and sacred spots where the world's grandest history 
has been enacted. The tour was performed in the 
short space of one hundred and twenty-five days. 
The lectures were a rare treat to all present, as 
Mr. Sanford has fine descriptive powers, a voice 
of great flexibility and sweetness, and a genuine en- 
thusiasm consonant with the hallowed theme, when 
speaking of the Holy Land. Space forbids us to 
mention all the rare and curious relics which he 
obtained upon his pilgrimage and exhibited to the 
audience. We saw antique vases and lamps from the 
chambers of the pyramids, scarabses, and shreds of 
cerements that wrapped the mummies of three thou- 
sand years ago ; olive berries and cedar from the hills 



116 IOWA. 

of Judea, and shells from the shores of blue Galilee, 
which may have been pressed by the hallowed feet of 
the dear Christ eighteen centuries since, not forgetting 
the water from the sacred Jordan, and Dead Sea, which 
were all genuine, beyond doubt. We thank Mr. San- 
ford most devoutly for making this pilgrimage, as a 
representative of Iowa, to the old world. 

A few more incidents connected with the gentle- 
man's career will be interesting to our readers. Mr. 
Sanford was born in Seneca, K Y., in 1832, conse- 
quently he is thirty-five years of age. At the early 
age of nine, he lost his mother and was " bound out " 
three years, and upon his father marrying again, his 
indentures were canceled and he returned to the 
home-nest. But there arose " an unpleasantness," he 
Nashyly remarks, and after a sound thrashing, he seeks 
his fortune in the West Indies, Mexico, South Amer- 
ica and the Southern States. After years of wandering 
he places his pilgrim feet upon Iowa soil, studies for 
the ministry and becomes a beloved pastor of the 
Universalist Church. During the war he was made 
lieutenant, and captain in the Second Iowa Cavalry, 
also a Colonel in the Forty-Seventh Iowa Infantry. 

In the summer of 1865, he traveled over Europe 
and the British Isles, and in the past winter crossed 
the Atlantic a second time and visited the Holy Land, 
Egypt, etc., as we have mentioned. 

His lectures have been pronounced by good critics 
as equal to Taylor's in word-painting and poetic en- 
thusiasm. He should publish an account of his 
travels in book form for the benefit of his many friends 
in Iowa. 

The transition from word-painters to artists who 
paint with sunbeams, is comparatively easy as we 
gossip of our goodly citizens. 

Mr. Datesman was the first artist in Marshalltown 
claiming from Daguerre the principles of the art so 
mysterious to the early pioneers, long before the age of 



i 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 117 

ambrotype, photograph, etc. What wonderful im- 
provements we see in the pictures of to-day and those 
of twelve years ago. He was not the pioneer artist 
of the county, that honor being worn by F. Baum, 
who in Marietta made life-scenes from the bronzed 
features of the old settlers in 1854, a year before the 
advent of P. Datesman in Marshall town. 

Mr. Baum has published a beautiful map ot Mav- 
shall county, giving to all a line delineation of the 
different groves, water- and section -lines of the town- 
ships. They are now associated together in art-work 
and do a good business in their gallery on Main street, 
only equaled by the Hoosier soldier, J. Lee Knight, 
he taking the premium at the county fair of 1865 for 
the finest photographs on exhibition. 

We have also an artist of real genius in the lithe, 
graceful figure of Miss C A. Shaw, who has achieved 
wonders on canvas without crossing the threshold of 
any school of design, being entirely self-taught. She 
has an excellent likeness of Mrs. Giddings, one of our 
best families, from Ohio, a relative of Hon. Joshua 
Giddings, '^the old man eloquent." 

VIENNA. 

Vienna township occupies the north-east corner of 
the county — has grove, water, prairie without stump 
or stone, ready for the plow-share, and with the advan- 
tage of a moral, intelligent people, it is one of the 
most desirable spots of earth to live upon. The Iowa 
makes a bend around the south-west corner of the 
township, AVolf and Dean Creeks are in the north and 
center, while Nicholson's heads in the south — in fact, 
running water in every direction for stock. Mr. 
Hunsden is one of the earliest settlers, and was post- 
master, an office he held from its establishment, — 
a very loyal man, having sent a whole family of sons 
to the Union army, two of whom were sacrificed, yet, 



1 18 IOWA. 

like the grand old Roman, he regrets them not, so the 
country lives and is saved to liberty and freedom. 
He has splendid strawberries and currants, and the 
latch-string of hospitality hangs on the door in the 
fruit season. 

Mr. Cleaver, an excellent citizen, is a refugee from 
Canada in the time of the revolution of 1838. He 
was a state prisoner at Toronto eight months and 
then banished into exile. His two sons, James and 
Kim, served with distinction and valor in the army ; 
one of his daughters, the brown-ejed "Jessie," mar- 
ried Prof Heighton some years ago. His farmhouse 
is a pleasant resort for citizens of Marshalltown in the 
warm season, and many remember wdth pleasure the 
hours spent with music and chess, the smiles of wel- 
come from our hostess, and let us add, the most 
fragrant cup of coffee in the county. 

Mr. Bradbury, also one of the pioneers and an 
Englishman from the vicinity of Rochdale, the home 
of John Bright, lived here, and after opening up a 
new home in the West and beginning fully to appre- 
ciate the greatness of American institutions, fell a vic- 
tim to disease and crossed to the unknown shore, 
leaving his family comparatively strangers in the New 
World. There is a rude grave-yard at Wolf Creek 
where he was buried, with scarcely a spot of beauty 
but the grand old trees. 

We protest against the fashion, we Western people 
have, of doing everything for the comfort of the living 
and leaving our burial places without a flower to mark 
our affection, or sometimes a respectable fence. We 
place the marble there, perhaps,butwe ought to cultivate 
flowers, visit them often, and not be so afraid of the 
dear spot that enshrines the remains of the loved and 
lost. 

Near this rude cemetery lives an English gentleman 
by the name of Jones. He is a very successful 
farmer, showing what superior skill can do with our 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 119 

rich Iowa soil to aid the agriculturist. His wife is 
a very pleasant hostess and the family is highly 
respected in the vicinity. 

Mr. Beeman lives near here also — a good man, 
having a beautiful farm. 

With this little digression, we return to the Brad- 
bury family. After the death of her husband, Mrs. 
Bradbury met with many diflftculties, but managed 
her business in an admirable manner. Her daughter 
coming from England, was married quite early in 
life to a Mr. Bowen from New York. This was the 
largest wedding ever held in Vienna township, but 
after the hilarities were over, a careless boy on the 
farm set a straw stack on fire, which caught the barn 
and burned it with other valuables. It was a great 
loss, but the neighbors were very kind and helped the 
family in every possible way. 

There is a very thickly settled neighborhood on 
Wolf creek nearh^ on the line of Vienna, which holds 
meetings in the school-house. They have a post office 
just over the line in Grundy, called Wandaloup, the 
Latin for wolf, so the schoolmaster said. They are 
obliged to go twenty miles for a physician or lawyer. 
If some persons practicing these professions were to 
settle here, it would save a good deal of travel for 
Wandaloup. 

Mr. Samuel Eichey, one of the Board of Supervisors 
and a very excellent citizen, lives in the southern part 
of Vienna. 

There have been revival meetings held in the school- 
house near here, under the superintendence of Eev. J. 
S. Edwards of Marshalltown, and a large class formed 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Among the prominent citizens of this township we 
have only space to mention a very few. Mr. Cun- 
ningham, Mr. Monlux, Mr. Glass, an old, yet pleasant 
gentleman, Mr. Walters, and others. We close with 
a leaf from the tablet of Vienna soldiers. 



120 IOWA. 

Mr. David Swartwout left a little family and rallied 
to his country's call in the Twenty-Third Eegiment, 
but while home on furlough in March, 1864, died there. 
This was a dreadful stroke to his wife and children, 
and their son Augustus passed over to the " other 
shore " from the hospital at New Orleans the next 
year. 

Joseph Vincent, of the rank and file, who carried 
the old flag at Pea Eidge and was killed on the field, 
Hiram V. Willey, who laid down his young hopes at 
Shiloh, and the Hunsden boys who died in hospital, 
make up the list of the heroic dead. Vienna sent as 
many men to the army as she cast votes at the pre- 
vious election — the banner township ! 

BANGOR TOWNSHIP 

Lies in the great highway from Eldora to Marshall- 
town. Its hills rise from the drowsy Iowa, and the 
wild bees drone on Honey Creek. One listens to the 
sweet voices of Quaker girls, and the tinkle of bells 
in the sheep folds ; anon, a hawk circles up from the 
prairies, and the mists rise from the lowlands, showing 
the little village of 

BANGOR, 

With its unpretending churches, its rows of shade 
trees and cultivated gardens, old fashioned hollyhocks 
and sunflowers swinging under the windows ; doves 
and darting swallows; the whole picture so sugges- 
tive of real comfort, no wonder the poor darke3^s when 
they came from Missouri, exclaimed, " Oh ! dis is de 
happy land of Canaan." At one time there were a 
good many fugitives about the towmship, but they have 
mostly returned to a warmer climate. We have seen 
a broad-brimmed Ethiopian, of the family of Hagar 
and Onesimus, occasionally in the streets of Marshall- 
town, who it seems is a disciple of the rare, principles 
of George Fox. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 121 

There were a good many ladies here who were iden- 
tified with the Soldiers' Aid Society and with the Or- 
phans' Home Fair, who wrought faithfully and well, 
for they raised over a hundred dollars in this township 
for the Home. 

Among those who were on the Underground Rail- 
road, and a conductor on the same, was Mr. James 
Owens, now living at Iowa Falls ; and Mr. Lounsbury, 
of Hardin, sometimes gave help. The route was from 
College Farm, in Jasper county, to Marietta; then 
taking a team and driving the load onward to Bangor, 
among some of the good Friends, if not to Mr. Owen's. 
There were sharp tricks played off upon prying people, 
and queer disguises used to keep the poor creatures 
from being taken. How the world has moved in 
seven years ! 

Mr. Owens went as a missionary among the freed- 
men through the war, and accomplished a great deal 
of good among them as well as among the sick soldiers 
of Iowa regiments. 

But yet there is even among the Quakers, a long 
continued inherent prejudice in favor of the superior- 
ity of the Anglo-Saxon. In the Sunday School at 
Bangor, one of the colored brethren was made a 
teacher over white children. In spite of the teach- 
ings of a hundred years some of the parents remon- 
strated. Sister Bush, the mother of the teacher, as 
black as the ace of spades, rose to her feet in the 
congregation, and forthwith gave the brethren and 
sisters a severe castigation, as the spirit gave her utter- 
ance. She is now in Missouri. 

Mr. Lancaster Bell and Mr. N. Lounsbury, also Mr. 
Owen Albright, are old and time-honored citizens in 
this region. All have splendidly cultivated farms, 
and Mr. Albright has the finest fruit in Marshall 
county. His nursery is in excellent condition ; the 
young trees being thoroughly acclimated, are worth 
ten times more than importations from the East. We 
11 



122 IOWA. 

liave seen cherries of a delicious flavor and very large 
size from his garden, that would make the same family 
of May Dukes blush a deeper red in Ohio. Currants, 
raspberries, complexioned like Dido, strawberries^ and 
in fact, he raises all the small fruits in great perfection. 
He was very prominent in building the church at 
Bangor, and is a good citizen in every capacity. 
They have a small library and debating club in the 
village. 

Mr. W. W. Weatherly, now land agent in Marshall- 
town, having been sheriff' of the county and a captain in 
the Marietta w\ar, was, with Dr. Bush, one of the earliest 
settlers on the Upper Iowa river. His cabin was built 
not far from Mormon Kidge in the fall of 1850. He 
relates a melancholy incident connected with a funeral 
of old Mr. Dean in Marshall township a few months 
after, in 1851. They had not enough pine lumber to 
make him a coffin, and were obliged to saw up the 
sideboards of Mr. Weatherly 's w^agon to piece out the 
lid. They were not very poor, but the high water 
prevented the getting of lumber. It was a time of 
great trial to Mrs. Dean, but she bravely bore up under 
all her difficulties. 

Civilization, in its irresistible march westward, 
sometimes seems like a Juggernaut that crushes its 
victims with less conscience than the Hindoo idol, 
and the homesick women who pine in emigrant homes 
are not the least to be pitied. 

Mormon Ridge in this township takes its name from 
the fact that in 18-19 a good many of the saints, on 
their westward march to Salt Lake, were detained here. 
They dug holes in the hillside for homes, and enlarged 
their apartments by w^agon covers and old quilts. 
They must have suffered severely from cold, for there 
are quite a number of graves to be counted in the 
vicinity. 

Coal is seen along the edge of the river not far 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 123 

from here, and all it needs is a steam pump to remove 
the water from the shaft, and this valuable mineral 
could be worked for market. 

Mr. Jacob Kinzer has lived in Bangor some years, 
and is well known as a good citizen and an excellent 
farmer. There are a number of Carolina Quakers set- 
tling in his neighborhood. 

The village of Bangor has a pleasant location. 
There is a store owned by Mr. J. C. Smith of Eldora, 
formerly of Marshalltown, a blacksmith shop, post- 
office, etc. Should the railroad ever be built from 
Eldora to Marshall, Bangor will become an important 
point, as it is one of the best farming regions of the 
West. The Methodists and Friends are about equally 
divided in numbers and influence ; the Sabbath Schools 
are in a flourishing condition. 

The first Justice was Mr. Siieldon Wyatt, and his few 
neighbors at the time, were Mr. Jessup, John Cockett, 
Silas IL Bentley, and his brothers. Mr. Isaac Miller, 
who once resided in Marietta, lives here on a good farm, 
and is a prominent member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. Also a Mr. Cox lives in this vicinity, 
and Mr. Angus McKinnon, with his brother Lathland 
— good citizens. 

MINERYA. 

This township is near the Story line, and tucks its 
green prairies under it, with here a grove, there a farm 
house, presenting charming landscapes in the beauty 
of midsummer. We always fancied this township 
was named after some good woman, who dispensed her 
hospitalities upon some intelligent wayfarer — hence 
the name, for it has creeks of Little and Big Minerva 
— an improvement on the endless repetition of 
Washington, Jefterson, etc., to the plague of letter 
writers and postmasters in the countrj^ Mr. Elder 
has the honor of being the first settler in this place, 



124 IOWA. 

having entered his land in 1851. He owned the 
grove that bears his name, and opened up a good 
farm at a very early day. He afterwards w^ent to 
Liberty, and is held in high estimation in this section. 
Mr. Daniel Stevens, near " Liberty line," was also a 
pioneer the same year, and Mr. Weatherly, our busy 
real estate agent now, broke the green sward for his 
garden and cornfield soon after his arrival. Mr. 
Weatherly was one of his nearest neighbors, living in 
Bangor, twelve miles distant. 

Mr. Patterson — of military 'presence^ both in Mexico 
and at Marietta — was one of the old settlers. He iden- 
tified himself with the new township by naming 
a pretty grove, "Patterson." He is now living in 
Davenport, and is quite wealthy. 

Mr. John Anselme, a Frenchman, was also a pioneer, 
and soon after there came quite a number of la helle 
countrymen and settled at the little groves and in the 
best portions of the township. Entering their land, 
and being careful and industrious, they have become 
as wealthy farmers as there are in the county. At 
the time of the Marietta war, French Grove was a good 
deal excited in favor of the existing capital, and hearing 
that Dr. Taylor, of Marshalltown, had been connected 
with ihe Know Nothing movement, he came very near 
being lynched by the wrathful citizens as he came 
into town on business. 

There are a few Germans also, who are quite intelli- 
gent, and have taken great pains to obtain good school 
teachers for the past lew years. 

Mr. Patterson, in 1864, sold his farm and beautiful 
home to Mr. S. Burkholder, who was an efficient 
member of the board of supervisors. His house was 
a great summer resort for the elite of Marshalltown, 
having pic-nics on his grounds — all being pleasantly 
entertained by the agreeable hostess and her sister. 

The Protestant Methodists have a little church here, 
which is attended by the community generally. 



MAKSHALL COUNTY. 125 

Among the wealthy farmers, are Mr. George Wantz 
and Oscar Elliott. But we have not space for a further 
notice of this township, with the exception of 



CLEMENS' CORNERS. 



Near the Liberty line, a point well known since 1856, 
where the first store was built west of Marietta for a 
good many miles. Mr. Clemens entered the grove 
which bears his name, and kept a good hotel, whose 
gleaming fires welcomed the half frozen traveler in the 
dreadful winter of 1856-7. The mercury fell on the 
18th of December, to thirty-six degrees below zero. 
There is no store now at the " Corners," we believe. 
The ladies shop in Bangor, Eldora, and in Marshall- 
town, or around a peddler's wagon. 

MAEION TOWNSHIP, 

Famous in the county war for her defective poll- 
books, has a very intelligent people, being settled 
early by Vermont Yankees. There is rich alluvial 
soil on the bottoms of the Iowa river, also uplands that 
grow immense corn, so that there is a great variety of 
land to select from, with plenty of water, timber, etc. 

Near the Marshall line lives the family of Mr. Hol- 
comb who came in 1856 from the Reserve, in Ohio. 
They had no meat-house or cellar to the cabin, so 
hanging their smoked shoulders and hams to the 
eaves, they had a dangling cornice very tantalizing to 
the wolves, who used to jump upon their hind feet — • 
circus fashion — trying to pull down the meat Mrs. 
Holcomb is noted for her splendid dairy. 

In the vicinity of Green Mountain lives Mr. Brock, 
a gentlemanl}^ farmer ; also Mr. Heacocks, and Spen- 
cer Day, Esq., who is known in this section for his 
line cattle. Mr. G. W. Voorhees was an early settler, 
and lived near Mr. Holcomb. He had a farm in an 



126 IOWA. 

early day, and was a relative of the family at Le Grand. 
He remembers of sending a watermelon as a present 
to Mr. Holcomb's family by "Jeft'," the first year of 
their pioneer life, which the rascal devoured with the 
help of a young comrade ; — a standing joke upon the 
aforesaid "Jeff'" to this day. 

GREEN MOUNTAIN 

Was laid out by James Harvej^, Esq., one of our most 
capable business men, and once partner with Dr. 
Whealen of the Quaker City store. Himself a Yer- 
monter, and his neighbors being mostly from New 
England, the village soon gave signs of Yankee energy, 
and there is no doubt that it would have been an 
important point, had it not been for the financial 
crash of 1857, which killed the Fulton Air Line Kail- 
road, whose track lay nCc.r Green Mountain. 

This road received a land o-rant from Conofress of 
800,000 acres, and had seventy miles graded, yet it is 
never heard of now. The grant was transferred to 
the Cedar Eapids road, and the result was, this village 
was left out in the cold. Religiously speaking, Green 
Mountain is Congregational. The)- have fine school 
houses in this vicinity, and the country is noted for its 
beauty, " the prettiest the sun e'er shone on," so an 
enthusiastic visitor said one summer evening. But 
we will not pause in this lovely spot, but hurry 
southward to 

FREDONIA, 

Another quiet village, that first set its business corners 
on the track of the Fulton road by the direction 
of A. J. Cooper, Esq. It found a place upon the 
maps of Marshall county the same year with its unique, 
thrifty neighbor, Green Mountain. 

Near here is a beautiful church of quite large di- 
mensions, nearly finished, and built of the splendid 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 127 

stone found in the bed of Kock creek. It presents a 
fine appearance and is in esrery way creditable to that 
most singular of all people, the Dunkards. In the 
basement they have a cook-house where they roast a 
whole ox, and at the feast representing the Lord's 
Supper, they have a great variety of dishes prepared 
in this apartment. They wash each other's feet in 
token of the Master's humility, the priests shave their 
crowns but wear the back hair rather long, generally 
greeting the disciples with a holy kiss; are a very 
devoted people to their peculiar faith. If one of he 
church is found guilty of over-reaching in a bargain — 
that most wide-spread of all modern sins — he is disci- 
plined most rigorously ; and if ditfering from all 
other sects in creed, they certainly are a very moral 
and quiet people, and set an example for even some of 
our orthodox citizens to follow in life-practice. Tiiey 
have a membership of about one hundred, and are 
constantly increasing in numbers. The most of those 
in Fredonia came from Ohio, and Kev. Mr. Murray is 
their pastor. 

In this vicinity, and very well known as a gentle- 
manly successful farmer, is Mr. John Hughes. He 
has excellent buildings for a new country, and every- 
thing has a neat business look, as if farming was an 
earnest, intelligent occupation. 

Mr. James Reed also lives near here, a brother-in- 
law of Mr. Joel Brock — very pleasant people, and 
whose interest in our county fairs never flags, or in 
any other enterprise to develop the resources of Iowa. 
Near Fredonia, eastward, lives Dr. Haynes, quite a 
successful physician ; also in that vicinity. Rev. Mr. 
Benn, who ministers in sacred things to a small church 
in the village, and at Orford. He is a verj^ useful man. 
Mr. Downs, once a citizen of Marshalltown, who did 
a heavy business in forwarding, lives not far from 
Fredonia. 



128 IOWA. 

An Englishman, by the name of Stubbs, lives in this 
vicinity who is quite wealthy — made it all by his 
industry and foresight. He has sometimes fifty head 
of stock for sale on his beautifully cultivated farm. 
Mr. Samuel Grilkinson, a good citizen and one of the 
early settlers, lived near here, but has latel}^ moved 
to Nebraska, 

Mr. Cooper had the first store in Fredonia and 
did a good business for some time, but Marshalltown 
filling up so rapidly, he sold out to a Mr. Zearing, and 
is now our Recorder — a very faithful officer and a 
worthy man. 

But farther back, in the "age of wolves," as an old 
pioneer facetiously terms it, lived Mr. Alexander 
Bowles, who came about 1849. They were at one 
time without game even, being out of ammunition, 
and were obliged to make soup of deer hides, without 
a mouthful of anything else. They parched corn and 
wheat, and ground it in a common coffee-mill for 
bread, sometimes boiling the grain whole in the kernel. 
As near as can be ascertained, this family suffered as 
much as any in the Iowa vallej^ Mr. Bowles has al- 
ways been a great hunter, a perfect Nimrod among the 
wolves and prairie chicks, and partly sustained his 
family in this manner for many years. Of course 
they lived in a cabin, hunted, fished, and raised what 
they could, till the era of sulky-plows and corn- 
planters. Mr. Samuel Deter's home may be seen not 
far from Mr. Bowies', and he is a very reliable, honest 
man. His sons follow in his footsteps, and are culti- 
vating good farms in this section. 

Broom corn, sorghum, potatoes, and everything 
that grows out of doors in Iowa, wave in the sun- 
light of Marion township. 



MARSH.ALL COUNTY. 129 



GREENCASTLE. 



Greencastle township is situated in the southeastern 
part of the county, the Marshalltown and Grinnell 
road passing through it. It is finely watered by 
tributaries of Timber creek and North Skunk, and 
has excellent farming land, with a good deal of timber 
in the northern portion. Thei-e are many sheep and 
very fair stock owned in Greencastle, and it is in every 
way a desirable portion of the Hawkeye heritage to 
emigrj^nts, with the single exception of church privi- 
leges, as they have preaching only fortnightly in this 
township, this being mainl}^ due to the exertions 
of the Christian Church. Judge Smith is now a resi- 
dent here, anvl preaches occasionally. With the help 
of co-laborers, much good has been done ; the Metho- 
dists also have a fair representation. 

Elias Hilsabeck is the oldest settler here, having 
come from Illinois in 1852 and entered his land. He 
is a very worthy farmer and a good citizen. Mr. 
Lantis, who formerly lived in Timber Creek township, 
is now a resident of Greencastle. His son, a very 
brave young man, died in the Union army. Mr. L. 
tried living in Missouri, but came back to Iowa per- 
fectly contented witli the magnificent land of the 
Musquaquas. The water is so much superior to that 
State, that this feature of our county will always 
make it an object to settlers. 

Mr. Hoes, formerly of Marshalltown, with '^ his 
sheep and cattle upon a thousand hills," lives in 
Greencastle ; also Mr. D wight of the same place, is now 
tilling land instead of broom making ; he was the first 
to furnish these useful articles to the citizens of Mar- 
shalltown. 

Captain Haskins of the " Old Thirteenth " is a 
citizen of this township, and in his bachelor home sur- 
rounded by luxuries, has no desire to return to the 
battle-field, 

12 



130 IOWA. 

In looking over the map, we find the site of Green- 
castle village, which once had the aspiration to be 
another New York, and if it conld bny up some of the 
votes in this portion of theHawkeye Stale, might be a 
county seat, in case Marietta and Marshalltown should 
eat each other up, like the giants in the fable. Mr. 
Blakely Brush was the chief Eajah of this town, and 
built a large two-story house w^ithout wiugs, which 
always bore the name of "the Castle." A tew years 
since, Mr. Akers bought the dilapidated fortress, 
filled the loop holes wath glass instead of old coats, 
and righted up the chimney tops and fence, audit now 
makes a very respectable appearance. 

It was at Justice S. Haskins, just over the line of 
Le Grand, that Attorney Hepburn and Hon. T. Brown 
had their little prize-ring exercise. Some years ago, 
a ditty ran thus, the only thing on record which 
commemorates the event : 

Ah! Peter, Peter! 
Pumpkin eater! 
How could you thus strike down, 
Or pull the hair 
And scratch the eyes 
Of Honorable Timothy Brown ? 

But these gentlemen have risen to such high positions 
in life they may have forgotten this episode of the 
law. 

One cool day in October, 1854, Mr. Jonathan Keed, 
of Ohio, left his wife and family in the wagon, out 
on the sea of brown grass, about three miles from 
any neighbor, sewing a tent cover, while he started 
to Oskaloosa for flour. After a good deal of stitching 
and the tent pins being drove into the ground, it was 
found that by no manner of means would the cover 
fit upon them, managed by unskillful hands. The 
boys thought they could build a turf house, but night 
came on before the abode was but a little way above 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 131 

the foundations. Finally, after a night in the wagon 
on a lonely prairie, and becoming discouraged with the 
turf, it was concluded to go back to Mr. Hilsabeck's 
smoke-house and live in that until Mr. Reed should 
return and a house could be built. Mr. K came back 
in about a week, and a small house was erected that 
fall, after three or four weeks sojourn in the smoke- 
house. Mr. Reed has been prominent in the county, 
filling offices of trust, and is a man of unflinching 
principle and integrity. He has fine taste in horses, 
and owns some excellent animals. We have tested 
the hospitality of this family, after Mr. Reed sold, and 
went to Le Grand, and know that it was a charming 
place to spend an hour. 

Mr. Clogston, and Mr. John H. Seiger, have made 
Greencastle their home, and we believe there is no 
better township in the county. About sixty families 
live here. 

EDEN 

Is situated in the extreme southwestern portion of the 
county. Perhaps, there is not a better township of 
land in Iowa than Eden, often called by its happy 
soubriquet, " Paradise." Watered by Clear creek and 
its tributaries, also by the head springs of North Skunk, 
with large groves of the best timber for many miles, and 
noted truthfully for the beautiful "lay of the land" — 
like a picture. This soil is of unusual depth and fer- 
tility ; one particular field owned by Greene Allen has 
been farmed for eighteen seasons without any percep- 
tible diminution of the crop when properly cultivated. 
Protected by the groves, wild and tame fruits reach 
great perfection ; the fences are of the most substantial 
character, barns and out-houses likewise, everything 
cosy and thrifty about the farms, denoting wealth and 
prosperity. 



182 IOWA. 

EDENVILLE. 

This village is contemporaneous with Freclonia and 
Green Mountain, having been laid out by C. B. Rhodes, 
Esq., in 1856, and now contains two hotels, a store, 
two blacksmith shops, a large flouring mill, cabinet 
shop, and a large school-house used for churcli pur- 
poses. There is an organization of Disciples, but 
the Methodists are the most numerous — have a par- 
sonage neatly fitted up for Rev. Mr. Bolton, and it is 
hoped they will carry out the project of building a 
church edifice the present season. The earliest settler 
in the vicinity was Greene Allen, who came upon his 
claim of six hundred acres in 1849. No fear of 
Indians, prairie fires, wolves, bears, etc., deterred him 
from his improvements ; when the troubles arose on 
Timber creek he would not go into the fort but kept 
the even tenor of his way. He has lately returned 
from a sojourn of six years in Oregon. 

A man by the name of Maggard lived in a cabin 
near Clear creek, and made a little improvement, but 
taking a fever from exposure, died before there were a 
half-dozen families within twenty miles to mourn for 
the pioneer. 

Among the earliest settlers was Rev. Thomas Men- 
denhall, a Protestant clergyman, still living in Eden- 
ville ; and Rev. Simon Woolston, who labored faith- 
fully in the church, for temperance, and also for 
Masonry, and is still carrying on these good works in 
Missouri. He had a large family of sons and daugh- 
ters who settled here, comprising some of the most 
influential citizens in the township. 

Mr. Owen and Simon Price came about the same 
time, and Mr. Andrew Logan, who published the first 
newspaper in Iowa, at Davenport, in 1836. He still 
survives an amiable wife who is buried not far from 
the mill in the village grave-yard where too sleeps Mrs. 
M. Rhodes, the victim of a terrible accident by fire. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 133 

This grave-yard needs attention from loving hands, 
for there are not even rail pens to enclose all the 
graves, in the Iowa fashion. The grave-yard in the 
north part of the town is not much better as to embel- 
lishment. 

Near here lives Mr. P. A. Culver, alternating with 
Mr. C. Ehodes in the honors of township supervisor, 
and a man of upright life and principle. Mr. Tuffree 
from Pittsburg, Pa., came to Eden in 1855, fenced 
his land and built his house when the wolves howled 
anything but a welcome to the hardy settler. Mr. 
Eutson Bullock came later, also Mr. Jeroleman who 
from small means has become quite wealthy and takes 
many premiums at the county fairs for good stock. 
Mr. Bullock keeps an excellent hotel at State Center, 
also Mr. A. Woolston is to be found there — once 
citizens of Eden. 

Perhaps there are no country residences for fifty 
miles around, equaling in beauty and cost that of Mr. 
C. B. Mendenhall and Mr. Conway Ehodes — with the 
most substantial barns and out-houses, in keeping with 
their splendid homes. 

Mr. Ehodes built the first mill and store in Eden- 
ville, in 1857, bringing the lumber and goods from 
Iowa City, using very emphatic words at the sloughs, 
— so he reports. 

The first postmaster was Mr. Isaac Sanford, who 
afterward kept hotel on East Main street, and had a 
shoe shop also. His name appears among the first 
Justices in the township. 

The first Fourth-of-July celebration was in 1858, 
when the little village was all excitement. Baskets and 
bundles went forward to the rustic tables, there was 
music by the choir, and an oration by Eev. Mr. Merrill 
of Jasper county. Zenas Bartlettwas G-rand Marshal, 
and the older settlers will remember of being marched 
around the mill and back to the grove in the hot sun- 
shine — rather more fatigued than patriotic. There 



134 IOWA. 

was a splendid flag in the procession, and the beau- 
tiful Emma Tuffree, who died in 1862, sang the 
national airs with the sweetness of a full-throated 
lark, as she marched along with a few school girls. 

Mr. Benson, who a few years later was killed by 
lightning, was one of the company, and Martin Logan, 
the first on the starry record of Eden's heroic dead. 
Next, was Mr. Bartlett, who left wife and little 
children and an aged father, but alone with his nurse, 
died in a St. Louis hospital ; then the merry-hearted 
George Calver ; Irving Benson, who was killed at 
Champion Hills, nobly bearing the colors in that 
ghastly highway from Jackson, Miss. ; then the martyr- 
ed prisoner, Simon Woolston, whose sweet, boyish face 
will never be forgotten here ; after him, Harry Nichols, 
who went late to the army but died early at Alexan- 
dria, after he had marched with " Sherman round to the 
sea," and sank to sleep without a comrade to fold 
the army blue over his brave heart. Tears fill my 
eyes as I write of these soldier boys, for I knew them 
well. They sleep in almost nameless graves, where 
no loving sympathy can plant the myrtle and the rose, 
or erect the enduring marble to their memories. 

ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS. 

This time-honored institution of temperance was 
organized in 1859, and by its efficient labors has 
entirely banished whisky-selling for miles around. 
Among its charter members, who bore the brunt of 
persecution in the good work, were Mr. F. T. Woolston, 
Mr. John Jeroleman and lady, Charley Price, whose 
gude-wife is one of the sweet singers of upper Eden, 
and Mrs. Scotten, a very efficient officer in the order. 
But alas! the banners of the lodge are trailed in 
the dust, and the enterprise is among the things that 
were. 

In our notice of Eden, we must not overlook the 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 135 

lively poetess of tlie " Star of Hope," Mrs. A. Bal- 
lock, or Mrs. Maggie Brewer, a contribator to the 
same. 

Among those who came later to this township, who 
in a few years have become wealthy and prosperous, 
is Mr. D. Harmon, a liio^hly gifted singer; Mr. A. 
Viles, Esq. ; Mr. James Nichols, from Pennsylvania; 
and last, though not least on our list, Mr. T. Robb and 
Mr. J. B. Mendenhall. 

STATE CENTER 

Originally belonged to Eden and a part of Washing- 
ton towriship, and was set off after the village of 
State Center reached nearly full stature. In the winter 
of 1863, about the first of December, State Center 
Station was dropped down upon the railroad track, 
and looked desolate and lonely enough the first winter, 
as there were but two or three houses besides those 
belonging to the Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad 
Company. 

The oldest resident, we think, was Mr. William 
Barnes, who bought produce at the station — a very 
energetic man. Next, came Mr. John Anselme, the 
pioneer of French Grove, and built a hotel, or rather 
transported a building on wheels from the village of 
Marietta across the prairie ten miles. In the spring 
following, Mr. Bassett built a beautiful residence in 
the northern part of town, which being in an elevated 
position, was a sort of lighthouse for a long distance 
to tired travelers. 

About this time it was noised about that State 
Center was the center of Iowa, the very pivot of the 
Hawkeye State. Lots had an upward tendency at this 
hub. Then came the Carpenters, men of capital and 
enterprise, from Sandwich, 111. Soon, the firm of 
Shipman k Dobbins gave a new impetus to trade in 
that vicinity ; next in order, the mechanics and 



136 IOWA. 

artisans, that make up the bone and sinew of a town ; 
another hotel, kept hy Mr. W. Greenfiekl, swung out 
good cheer to the passer-by ; and finally drug stores, 
furniture rooms, etc., stood coaxing! j on the streets, to 
relieve the farmers of State Center and Eden of their 
spare cash. 

TEERIBLE TORNADO. 

On the 27th of June, 1865, there came up a terrible 
thunder storm from the west, with flashing lightning 
and roar of heaven's artillery, while the wind seemed 
to come like an avalanche, sweeping everything be- 
fore it. Mr. T. M. Carpenter had a store of dry goods, 
and occupied the back part as a home for his family ; 
there was a rush, then came a terrific crash, the cries 
of little children mingled with groans and sobs from 
the inmates, and the storm beating down upon their 
heads. On examination, it was found the whole 
structure had blown down, one of the timbers striking 
a little girl about seven years of age, and the stove in 
falling over had inflicted some dreadful burns upon 
the babe of a few months. All had received more or 
less injuries, the goods in the building were scattered 
about the debris and ruin, and bearing their wounded 
children in their arms, the terror-stricken parents 
sought shelter at the nearest house as soon as possible. 
The little girl died the next morning, in spite of 
medical assistance ; she was attended by Dr. Waters 
of Marshal Itown, through whose skill and the careful 
nursing of the mother, the infant finally recovered, 
after a great deal of suffering. 

The strange freaks of the wind — which, in its peace- 
ful moments, is so like an infant's breath — were notice- 
able. Heavy sticks of timber, and long and unman- 
ageable boards, were seen flying through the air in every 
direction ; chips of wood and bunches of the blow-weed 
were playing cross-fire ; while the dust and fragments 
of brick and stone about the buildings elsewhere 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 137 

filled the atmosphere to such an extent, that it seemed 
as if a heavy garment had been dropped down be- 
tween heaven and earth. A wagon box was carried a 
long distance without the wheels, a wash-tub was 
moored away out on the prairie without mortal hands, 
and pails, pots and billets of wood danced a jig outside 
of the houses to the music of the storm. 

PRESENT PROSPERITY. 

There is scarcely a town in the State that has made 
such advance in wealth and prosperity as State Center. 
In a little more than three j^ears it has grown from a 
hamlet of two families to a population of five hundred ; 
has dry goods stores, millinery shops, manufactories 
of harness, shingles, shoes, etc. ; with a flourishing 
Good Templars' Lodge. A large public school-house 
has been built the past season and furnished with a 
beautiful toned bell, and walnut desks, blackboards, 
and everything to make the building comfortable for 
student and teacher. Most of the inhabitants were 
from Sandwich, Northern Illinois, and brought with 
them much of the energy and go-ahead-a-tive-ness of 
that region. 

The farms in the vicinity of State Center are scarcely 
equaled for good crops, and their neat, thrifty appear- 
ance, especially Mr. Bowen's, Yan Pelt's and L. Brown, 
Esq. Once, Mr. Brown's farm was considered the 
jumping-ofi" place on the wide sea of grass beyond. 
John 0. Groat's house upon the Scottish headlands 
\. as not more welcome to the mariner than this farm- 
house, with its stately wheat stacks and droves of pigs 
and chickens, was to the wayfarer upon the billowy 
undulation of that far-stretching prairie. 

State Center has an exceedingly pleasant location 
viewed from the westward. It will soon be a fine 
business point, as there is no town of any size in 
the whole re^fion from Marshall to Nevada. There 



138 IOWA. 

are already two large warehouses, and an elevator in 
process of erection for the storage of grain, etc., and 
a Methodist church is talked of the coming season. 
Shipman & Dobbins have established a newspaper, 
and with their characteristic energy, it will be of 
benefit to the village. There is also a small job office, 
doing some very creditable work in the publishing 
line. 

Mr. J. Price is supplying with dressed lumber a 
large region of country, and nice comfortable farm- 
houses are dotting the prairie at every point of the 
compass. Mr. Walker is also in the same business, 
gladdening the eyes of new-comers with that important 
article, so necessary to a new home — cheap pine 
lumber. 

Emigrants are coming in every day to State Center 
and the township. 

WASHINGTON" TOWNSHIP 

Is situated w^est of Timber Creek and south of Mari- 
etta, the Waterloo and Marshalltown road passing 
through it on to Edenville, Peoria and Desmoines. 
It has some very fine timber in it ; Starry and Bear 
Groves being the largest bodies in the township. It is 
an elevated plateau, excepting the northern portion, 
and contains beautiful farms in a high state of cul- 
tivation. There are a good many sheep in this 
vicinity, and, thanks to the factory in Marshalltown, 
the wool commands a fair price or can be exchanged 
for cloth. 

Henry Starry was the first settler in this township, 
having moved from Iowa county in 1852. He came 
in with wagons, bringing with him his stock, nails 
and farming utensils, and even the flour for a year's 
use. His daughter Mary remembers driving the old 
cows along, as she walked a good deal of the way. 
He entered the land called Starry 's Grove, also his 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 139 

farm, and built his cabin westward of the timber. 
The next family was a Mr. Miller, a brother-in-law of 
Mr. Starry. They all went a hundred miles to mill, 
fought wolves, killed rattlesnakes, broke up nature's 
green sward, welcomed new comers, heard the pro 
and con of the Marietta war, and gradually grew rich 
and prosperous. 

Among these early settlers were Mr. Gotham and 
the Manwarings from Kew York, also Mr. Wickers- 
ham and Mr. Myers of Bear Grove. We will say, en 
passant, that Mrs. Myers is a model farmer. She hires 
help to do the housework, and with a Bloomer dress 
made of bed-ticking, may be seen hauling wood, 
driving a reaper or sulky plow, and is one of the most 
successful managers in the county. She has been 
known to go down to Iowa City for a load of lumber, 
accompanied only by her little boy, camping out, 
boiling her teakettle by the roadside, and taking care 
of the team herself 

We would recommend her to the notice of the New 
York Tribune and the American Agriculturist, for she 
far outshines their pet female farmers in Central New 
York. We must admire her self-reliance, although 
some may question her taste. 

PRAIRIE FIRES. 

If we should wish to get up an entertainment upon 
a grand scale for an Eastern audience, a prairie fire 
would be the most entertaining. A fire could sweep 
for about ten miles from the north down through into 
Jasper county in almost a direct line without the least 
interruption, as the western half of both Washington 
and Jefferson townships are prairie uplands, with only 
a farm to break in occasionally on its course. 

At one time Mr. S. Man waring was aroused by the 
crackling and roaring of the fire, and on looking out 
saw the haystacks in a blaze, with danger to the house 



140 IOWA. 

and stable. At once all hands were set to work to 
carry water, and finally, by the help of wet blankets 
and carpets, they saved a part of the hay and buildings. 
But hundreds of tons of hay are lost every year in 
Iowa from fires often carelessly lit by the pipe of a 
passing hunter, or boys bent on mischief. 

One night, Mr. Gotham was awakened by the light of 
a coming fire, and in a costume nearly Georgian, he suc- 
ceeded in getting a furrow ploughed around his build- 
ings, but there was a hen-roost in one corner of the yard 
where the fire got up some strange dissolving views 
within, for the poultry disappeared, then appearing 
in the morning tailless, with their wings badly 
burnt. 

The railroad passes along the banks of Linn creek, 
a beautiful stream twenty-six miles in length, which 
meanders through the long grass of this prairie up to 
its source in Minerva township. A singular accident 
happened to the cars not far from Mr. A. H. Stone's. 
A bridge had become damaged by a freshet ; the loco- 
motive passed over, however, but the baggage and 
passenger cars went down into the water. This was 
in the darkness of the night, the cars overturning with 
heated stoves, burning lamps and sleeping passengers, 
yet the good God took care that none were hurt. 
Some of the cars were badly damaged, and the mails 
with the terror-stricken travelers had an involuntary 
bath. 

Linn creek is a haunted stream. On the 9th of 
April, 1867, a young lady with her father, Mr. Hud- 
son, was drowned about two miles west from Mar- 
shalltown. Miss Hudson attempted to cross on the 
submerged bridge, but the horse lost his foothold 
upon the plank, there being no railing, and both fell 
into the water. Her father, attracted by the screams 
of the daughter and the shouts of quite a party 
assembled near, not one of whom could swim, plunged 
in, but lost his hold upon a bunch of willows to 



MARSHALL COUNTY. ' 141 

which he had clung for support, and not being a good 
swimmer they both sank to rise no more. 

A Mr. Algoyee was also drowned some years since 
not far from Le Grand higlfway bridge, in attempting 
a bath. Near here Mrs. Ed. Lockwood and Mrs. H. 
Nash had a narrow escape about seven years ago. 
Their horse had become frightened by covered wagons 
and kept obstinately backing, till he reached the 
bank, when he tipped the buggy over with its hu- 
man freight into the current, excepting Mrs. Nash and 
child who fortanately alighted a moment before. 
Mrs. Lockwood and her little daughter struggled in 
the icy water, it being in March. She succeeded in 
holding her child up from the stream w^ith one hand, 
while cling^ino^ with the other to the willows, and was 
finally rescued from her peril by the Pike's Peak trav- 
elers, who had caused the mischief The only damage 
done was to the buggy and harness, and the sinking 
of a basket of vegetables which the party had made 
the journey to obtain. But we will follow the wind- 
ings of the ill-fated stream back to Washington. 

Situated in a beautiful grove is the home of John 
Haynes who came here in 1854 He is of Scottish 
descent, and with the determination, characteristic of 
that earnest people, he bravely went through the hard- 
ships of the West without flinching. His brother 
Thomas is his neighbor, and a thrifty farmer. The 
Haynes, with Mr. Starry, have been pillars in the 
Protestant Methodist Church in this vicinit}^, and Mr. 
John Haynes was also very instrumental in keeping 
up the Good Templar organization. 

About seven miles from Marshall, is a station in 
this township called Cedar Cross Roads. There has 
been something done towards laying out a town by 
Mr. F. A. Stone. 

Among the wealthy men of Washington whom we 
have failed to notice, is Mr. John McCord, Mr. Wil- 
son, who drew the splendid silk quilt at the Orphans' 



142 IOWA. 

Fair, Mr. Wyatt, and Mr. Thayer — all good citizens. 
This township is every way adapted to sustain a large 
population. 

JEFFERSON. 

This township is bounded on the north by Timber 
Creek township, eastward by Greencastle, south by the 
Jasper line, and on the west by a township not named, 
being all prairie south of Washington. The road from 
Marshalltown to Newton, passes through Jefferson, 
winding through the lanes and door-yards of the 
" Kentucky settlement," and finally goes ont among 
the knolls of the southern edge, till a wagon, seen 
in the distance, from Mr. Archerd's, has the appear- 
ance of a big fat spider crawling slowly along on 
the sky's edge. 

The earliest settler was Mr. William Powers, who 
entered his land in 1852, giving his name to the grove 
and farm. This grove is on the south branch of 
Timber creek, which heads westward nearly to the 
Eden line in a romantic little lakelet of about an acre 
oi clear pellucid water. Here are brandts and wild 
geese in early spring in great numbers, to attract 
sportsmen. 

Mr. Powers' family suffered many privations, as they 
were obliged to go to Oskaloosa to mill — no church, 
and their nearest neighbor four or five miles distant. 
Mr. Putnam is an excellent citizen, living near the 
Kentucky settlement, which in 1855 was opened up 
by four farms, the land being first entered by Mr. 
Currens. Mr. Eogers was one of the largest proprie- 
tors — had a farm of two hundred acres. And Mr. 
Archerd who now keeps the Union House, was also 
an early settler, and has grown rich and prosperous 
here on his fruitful farm. 

This year, 1855, also saw a famil}^ settle upon the 
south edge of the township by the name of Hoppin. 
They were from New Jersey, he, a dry goods clerk, 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 148 

the wife, a young woman who bad seen better days, 
and two little children. He had only about live 
hundred dollars, but seeing the beautil'ul prairie in 
this part of Jefferson, bought an unfenced claim, with 
a cabin. He also purchased a yoke of oxen, but 
being inexperienced, his crop of 1856 proyed to be a 
little corn, a few pumpkins, and perhaps a peck of 
garden beans. The cold winter of 1856-7 coming on, 
he attem23ted to keep his oxen and cow from freezing, 
but was taken down with typhoid fever and died 
without medical attendance. Soon after, the cattle 
died, and this braye woman with her children lived 
alone that terrible winter, with but very little addi- 
tions to the winter's store of provision. There was 
nothing to buy, the emigration was so heavy that year, 
and if there had been, she had no money. She wore 
her husband's coats and boots, obtained fuel, dug 
snow drifts, liyed on parched corn for bread, and did 
not see a cup of tea or coffee for eighteen months. 
Any one but a heroine would have become disheart- 
ened and begged out of Iowa, but she clung to the 
farm, and the next year she raised a good crop with- 
out a fence, the neighbors lending a team, and in six 
years she sold the farm for eighteen hundred dollars, 
and with the proceeds of a year s produce, she went 
back to the Camden and Amboy State, rejoicing 
in her self-reliance. 

The Desmoines and Cedar Eapids telegraph, which 
passed through Newton and Marshalltown, had its 
line swung on tall cottonwood posts through here and 
Timber Creek, but it did not pay much of a dividend 
other than outgoes, and it was discontinued, the 
people burning the supports for firewood, after the 
line was taken down. 

Mr. Schettler, a very enterprising stock dealer, set- 
tled in this township twelve years since, and has be- 
come wealthy in the business. He was from Mays- 
vilie, Ky., and helped a great deal in carrying on the 



144 IOWA. 

enterprises of roads, schools, etc., in the settlement. 
They have several fine school houses, larger than is 
generally seen in country neighborhoods. This town- 
ship has excellent soil, some good timber, and is 
every way a good point for farmers to settle in. 

The names of the soldiers from Jefferson who sleep 
in Southern graves, are Clarington Poynes, who en- 
listed in the Second Cavalry, and William King. 
They were brave, good boys, and were sadly missed 
from the fireside and community. There were several 
who were discharged from inability and disease. 

HUNTING PARTIES. 

The prairie in the western portion has been noted 
for hunting parties, with dogs, guns, snack-baskets, 
and bottles of corn coffee. There is a tradition extant 
of one party who went to the head of Timber creek 
and killed seven hundred and eight chickens. These 
broiled, with hot rolls, and a cup of good Java, is a 
dish fit for a king. No wonder our prairies present 
such attractions to English and other sportsmen. Last 
season a large party of hunters from Buffalo visited 
this section. They were highly pleased with their 
success, and as our railroad facilities are increasing, no 
doubt in a few years our lovely plains will receive a 
full share of the summer tourists who journey for 
health and comfort. 

Mr. George Wills, with a party of five, went beyond 
Powers' Grove and killed three hundred and eleven 
chickens in one day, returning to town with their 
wagon loaded down with game. If this slaughtering 
should go on long at a time, the question is, where 
would the chickens be ? unless the Darwinian theory 
be true, that animals can be made from vegetable 
matter, and chickens could be manufactured from 
brown grass and Timber creek water. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 145 



CONSERVATISM. 



Jefferson township lias politically been rather con- 
servative, and a few went so far as to tease their neigh- 
bors by hanging butternuts on the telegraph poles 
and on the latch-string of their doors, but there has 
been quite a change of public sentiment Yecently, and 
the fossil remnants of conservatism are disappearing 
under a growth of free and enlightened opinion 

The Methodists and Disciples both have meetings in 
the school-houses, but on the lower edge of the town- 
ship there are a good many Germans, a very industrious 
people, who having grown quite wealthy in a few years, 
now think of uniting with those of Malaka township 
in Jasper county, and building a church edifice of their 
own near the line of Jefferson. We believe they are 
Lutherans, and hold service in their own language. 
The German pastor from New^ton ministers to their 
spiritual need when he can be spared from his own 
parish. 

Just this side of the Kentucky settlement may be 
found a Mr. Fuller, who with his amiable wife dis- 
penses hospitality to the stranger, yet sighs for the 
"Kentucky home far awa3^" 

LIBEETY. 

Liberty townsliip occupies the extreme north-western 
corner of Marshall county, has a number of small 
streams that form the north fork of the Minerva, and 
others tributary to the Iowa, and has a fine body of 
timber in Illinois Grove, the main portion of which -is 
in Liberty, a few acres only crossing the Hardin line. 
Coal is found near this grove in abundance. It is a 
pity capitalists leave this enterprise so to languish. 
Timber is in close proximity ; the fencing is excel- 
lent, and the crops are always good. There are fine 
fields of sorghum and broom corn, as well as all the 
other staple products of the soil. 
13 



146 IOWA. 

Mr. William Howard is quite an old settler, coming 
in 1855. He is favorably known as a faithful officer 
in the Board of Supervisors, and is an excellent 
neighbor and citizen. 

Among other good farmers, we are slightly " ac- 
quaint" with Mr. Mandeville Colwell, a Scotchman by 
birth, and wdio brought to this neighborhood all the 
thrift and intelligence characteristic of that glorious 
people, the countrymen of Burns and Wallace, of 
Bruce and Kit North. 

Mr. Holcomb, a brother-in-law of Dr. Waters of 
Marshalltown, is well known in this section. Also a 
Mr. Wm. McCormick, who left a good home, wife and 
little children, and gave his life for the nation, after 
some months' service. 

Mr. Ingledew is often mentioned as a prominent 
citizen of Liberty, and a Mr. Davis. Mr. WilHam 
Bevins came here as early as 1851 — has a good farm, 
and Bevins' Grove is known for many miles. Mr. 
Charles Tucker has quite a pleasant little inn that 
might be called the "half-way" house, as it stands so 
near the line that he may be counted a citizen of 
both Story and Marshall. 

Quite a heavy wind passed over this township and 
Bangor in 1859. It was on a May Sabbath after- 
noon. The day had been very warm, and at 4 o'clock 
there rose in the north-west a huge black cloud with 
a sea green edge, which raj)idh^ came to the zenith. 
The wind came " tearing down " from that quarter, 
sweeping over the timber and twisting the trees like 
whips. In crossing the fields it cleaned the .young 
corn right out of the soil as with a scraper, whirling 
the sand into winrows like stacks of hay. 

It was the same storm that caused the loss of life 
in New Providence and Canianche. Mrs.. Groff, a 
lad}' who lived on a farm in this township, says it was 
almost impossible, by the united strength of herself 
and husband, to keep a westei-n door from bursting 
the hine^es and blowing down. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 147 

They have a post office at Illinois Grove. Among 
the settlers who used to meet at their firesides and talk 
over the Marietta war, the probability of Marshalltown 
being the capital, and went to mill to Xenia, and to 
church in a small school-house at the south-east corner 
of Liberty, were William Spence, Esq., and William 
Stough. 

We believe the first Justice was George Magee ; 
and after some trials of pioneer life in Minerva town- 
ship came Mr. Elder and settled here. 

Liberty township gave a good account of herself aid 
through the war, and did nobly for the Sani tary funl 
and the Orphans' Home Fair. They are favored here 
by the preaching of Rev. Mr. Eberhart of Albion. 
There are a number of good school-houses, but if the 
people would unite and build a church in this vicinity 
it would be a fine thing for this section. People 
coming into a new country look out for church 
spires. 



148 IOWA. 



MAESHALL COUNTY. 

We now resume our theme of the county's growth 
and great development in the short time that has 
elapsed since its settlement. In population, taking 
for our data the census of 1865, and the immense 
emigration for the last two years, we have no hesi-. 
tancy in placing it in round numbers at 12,000 
Some idea of its wealth may be inferred from the 
real estate sales, as shown by the recorder's book for 
three months of the last year. They amount to 
$212,600. 

At State Center, Bangoi*, and more than all at Mar- 
shalltown, there is a heavy tide of wealth and popu- 
lation flowing in, that will tell soon in our business 
tables and abstracts. Each hour, " prairie schooners " 
are run upon our highways ; besides, the cars bring a 
a great many with settlers for Marshall county, show- 
ing that this is to be the home of a dense population. 
We have scarcely an acre of waste land, and as the 
crops never fail here, and the soil is of such remarka- 
ble fertility, we have only to exclaim, " There is room 
for all." 

One farmer in Washington township has cleared 
over twelve hundred dollars on eighty acres of land, 
beside supporting his flimily handsomely. Many of 
this kind of farmers, wealthy and energetic, sell out 
and come to Marshalltown to live, having beautiful 
homes, and adding to her wealth and prosperity. We 
might mention Mr. J. H. McCord, from Washington, 
Mr. Schettler, from Jefferson, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Spark, 
and others, from different townships, of whom we 
have nor space to speak particularly. 

We take leave of the county by saying, that aside 
from the partiality of the judgment of a citizen, it is 
one of the most desirable places for a residence, and 
that her Capital should be the Capital of Towa. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 149 

Taking up the pen we write of Marsh alltown 
the metropolis, and the most enterprising city in Iowa 
of its size. With a population of four thousand, it has 
erected over two hundred buildings the past year, and 
has as manj^ more in progress at this writing, July, 
1867. It has a skating park, churches, town halls, 
four miles of sidewalk, factories, foundries, ware- 
houses, a splendid bank, and other public buildings, 
which would do honor to any town, besides solid 
brick stores, hotels, and a large and commodious 
depot 

Sleight & Downer paid for wheat, $195,864; and 
for live hogs, $69,300. Their cash receipts were 
$813,363.50. Their sales of agricultural implements 
amounted to $81,163.97. 

. Willigrod & Qeier bought 65,000 bushels of wheat ; 
Mr. Abraham Stanley, another heavy dealer in grain, 
probably did as much business, though we have not 
the exact amount. 

Binford, Morgan & Co.'s account of sales for wheat, 
reads $150,000.20 from their books, and in their new 
store they will probably do a larger business the 
present season. 

The aggregate amount of sales at our dry goods 
stores, stands exactly at $307,000. 

Banbury & Caswell, grocers, did a heavy business of 
$50,000 last year. They are both good men, and 
very enterprising, although Mr. Caswell is generally 
poring over law books instead of working behind the 
counter. They both served in the Union army with 
distinction. 

Col. Jack's figures (at the old stand of S. Lacy), 
as given by him in a rongh estimate, were $10,000, in 
eleven months. 

There are others which can give as good showing ; 
among them, are Ginder k Co. 

Berthold k Smith, according to their capital, have 
done a good business the past year. 



150 IOWA. 

Turner, Stone & Co., hardware dealers, foot up, in 
receipts, $65,000. 

W. K. Smith sold $125,000 worth of lumber; 
Stocking & Price, $50,000, and D. B. Cunningham, 
as much more. 

We remark, in passing, that the only drawback 
our city has, is the need of a large educational institu- 
tion. Though our public school-house is commodious, 
costing about ten thousand dollars, and our select 
schools of a high character, yet we have no seminary 
building, or college, in our midst. Prof Williams 
and Miss A. Gilford have excellent schools in 
operation, but these are too crowded and need more 
room. 

Our city is under the charge of Col. B. W. Johnson 
as Mayor, who was one of the most able and accom- 
plished officers in the Sixteenth Army Corps. He 
has been elected to serve the county in the next Legis- 
lature as our representative to the lower house, with 
his genial colleague to the Senate, W. S. Eice, Esq., 
both receiving rousing majorities. 

Incidentally we have mentioned the most of our 
leading business houses, with perhaps the exception of 
Mr. S. Lacy's splendid furniture rooms ; Lee, Brom- 
ley & Co., a dry goods firm which commenced opera- 
tions here in 1865, from Kenosha, Wis., reliable, gen- 
tlemanly dealers in every way ; also the splendid 
grocery house of Hill, Liddle & Pollock, just opened 
on North Main street ; Abbot & Co.'s hardware 
store ; and not forgetting the " old Galena stand-by" 
Willard & Grumme, leather dealers, who have the 
largest roll of workmen in the city. 

All of our County officers are most deserving men 
— none more faithful than our time-honored citizens, 
Harry Gerhart, Esq., and J. L. Williams. 



MARSHALL COUNTY. 151 



IN THE COUKTS. 



An appeal from Justice Parker, who, by the way, 
reads Byron as well as Kent, sends us before Judge 
Chase of the District Court, a heavy, substantial framed 
man, with a forehead like Webster, and a keen grey 
eye, who watches a turn in the case with great eager- 
ness as there is no jury before him. At his right on 
a bench sits District Attorney Bradley, who is too 
handsome for a very successful lawj^er, languidly 
reading the Times, with an occasional look at Street, 
the counsel for a client, who twists facts into a terrible 
snarl. Street seems attempting a cover for his fox, 
which Brown, the legal bloodhound, is hunting down 
with a keen scent. He raps out very disturbing 
questions to the witness with the right forefinger upon 
his left palm. 

We turn to Boardman, with his analytic brain and 
cold, impassioned face, who is talking to Henderson. 
The gallant senator has but a moment before touched 
his beaver to a lady, and is listening with a dreamy 
look to the conversation, betraying more interest 
just now in the fair sex than the legal points of any 
case. 

Griswold, neat and gentlemanlj^, a- safe counselor in 
trouble, is examining briefs carefully at the table. 
Col. Johnson, another of our first class lawyers, bluff 
and hearty, looking every inch a soldier, is also reading 
papers by the wholesale. Bin ford, and Mercer, with 
lesser lights of the profession, are mingled in the 
tableaux, making an array of legal talent every way 
creditable to the county. 

Judge Lampman, of an excellent family, has been 
here some time among our lawvers, and is one of 
the most earnest, hard-working officers in Marshall. 

Emerging from the court house we pass Drs. Sher- 
wood and Lang, to hear a stir of scientific woi'ds on 
the air. 



152 IOWA. 

Coming home, we close our record with a glow of 
pride in Marshalltown and the County. Proud of her 
material prosperit}^, proud of the intelligence and 
virtue of our citizens, proud of that motto " Excelsior," 
she has written on her banners, we dream of a glorious 
future for Marshalltown, the Queen of the Iowa 
valley— one of the largest cities in the State and the 
Great Northwest. 



MAESHALLTOWN 
EUSI]SrESS DIEECTOEY. 



DRY GOODS AXD MERCHANDISE. 

Lee. Bromley & Co., two clerks, corner of Main and Court streets. 

B K. Adams, three clerks, Main street. 

"VVells S. Rice, three clerks. Main street. 

Whealen & Harvey, three clerks, Main street, 

"Woodworth & Wliitton, three clerks, Main street. 

David Parrett, two clerks, Main street. 

Loree & Wasson, one clerk, Main street. 

Harper & Co., one clerk. Main street. 

GROCERY STORES. 

G. "W. Ginder, two clerks, Main street. 

D. Heasty, one clerk, Main street. 

Duguid & Fuller, Main stre(4. 

Berthold & Smith, Main street. 

Norton & Gillespie, Main street. 

Johnson & Waters, one clerk. Center street. 

Dunton & Nicodemus, twd clerks, Center street. 

J. T. Jack & Co., Main street, wholesale and retail dealers, two 

clerks. Center street. 
Banbury & Caswell, wholesale and retail dealers, two clerks. 

Main street. 

CLOTHIXG AXD FURXISHIXG GOODS. 

Moses Stern, two clerks. Main street. 
Steifle & Co., two clerks. Main street. 
Chas. Birnbaum, one clerk. Main street. 
A. Loomis, one clerk. Main street. 
Meyer & Gump, one clerk, Main street. 
D. Hurst & Co., one clerk, Main street. 

MILTXERY AXD FAXCY GOODS. 

Mrs. M. C. Bailey, Main street. 

Mrs. X. M. Holt, Main street. 

Misses E. B. and M. A. Lang, Main street. 

Miss Maria Collins, Main street. 

14 




RSHALLTOWN 



AND SHOES. 



S. Ambrnster, manufacturer, store in his splendid brick block, four 

hands employed, Main street. 
G-. W. Peet, manufacturer, four liands, Main street. 

C. Woods & Son, one clerk, Main street. 
W. W. Miller, one clerk, Main street. 

DRUG STORES. 

Drs. Taylor & Barnhart, Main street. 

Mabie, Roe & Co., one clerk, Main street. 

Dr. George Glick, wholesale and retail, has three clerks, and oc- 
cupies a perfect bijou of a salesroom, the finest west of the 
Mississippi. 

FRUIT & CONFECTIONERY. 

William Pentland, one clerk. Main street. 
Ehle & Collyer, one clerk. Main street. 

D. W. Tate, one clerk. Main street. 
S. Keuner, one clerk, Main street. 

PROVISION AND FEED STORES. 

Forney & Thayer, one clerk, Main street. 

Mark Varnum, Main street, does a heavy business also in this line. 

MEAT MARKETS. 

A. Jenkins, one clerk. Main street. 

Shorthill & Co., Main street. Thomas Clark, Main street. 

BOOKS AND STATIONERY. 

C. N. Shaw & Co., one clerk. Main street. 
M. Rosenbaum, one clerk. Main street. . 

JEWELLERS. 

C. Miller, one clerk. Main street. 
Warrick & Speer, one clerk. Main street. 

DENTISTRY. 

Dr. Wm. H. Marvin, Main street. Dr. Knepper, GHck's block. 

Dr. D. E. Rickey, Main, street. 

PICTURE AND ART GALLERIES. 

Baum & Datesman, Main street. Miss Shaw, LTnion Hotel. 

J. Lee Knight, Main street, who did the extensive business of $5,000 
last year. 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 155 



PAIXTERS, AXD FRESCO ARTISTS. 



A. P, Hogle, Main street. 
Heighton & Bundy, Center street. 
E. F. Dean, West Main street. 



LIVERY AND SALE STABLES. 

Green & Beasley, Chestnut street. 
N. V. Speer, Center street. 

HOTELS. 

McLain House, Station street ; J. W. McLain, Proprietor. 
Marshal House, Main street; G. W. Sherman, Proprietor. 
City Hotel, Main street ; E. E. Shaw, Proprietor. 
Union House, Center street ; A. Hall, Proprietor. 
Miller's Hotel, Court street ; S. S. Miller, Proprietor. 

Another hotel would add greatly to our advantage as a city, espe- 
cially through the spring emigration. 

DIXIXG SALOONS. 

St. James Restaurant, Marshall & Quick, Main street. 
Excelsior Restaurant, Chas. Epeneter, Main street. 

AUCTIONEERS. 
Rhodes & Snider, Center street. M. Mundsell, Main street. 

MANUFACTORIES. 
Henderson & Co. 

Woodbury & Son, twenty-five men, near Depot. 
E. W. Lockwood, six men, near Depot. 
Chester Heald, three men, near Depot. 
S. Lacey, four men, Main street. 
Wm. East, four men. Main street. 
Hodge & Canfield, two men, near Depot. 
Shaw, Andrews & Co., two men, Center street. 
Wm. H. Calhoun, West Main street. 
Landsberry & Miller, Flour Mills. 
J. M. Sherwood, Flour Mills. 

DRAYMEN. 

Sanford & Curkhuff, Main street. I. J. Sanford, Main street. 

De Loss, Main street. 

BARBERS. 

Dick Ward, Main street. J. C. Beverly, Main street. 



156 MARSH ALLTOWN 

BAKERS. 
Brener & Engeliart, Main street. F. Kenner. 

LEATHER, HARNESS AXD SADDLERY. 

TVillard & Grumme, ten men, Main street. 
Gr. Schettler, three men. 

HARDWARE AXD TIN STORES. 

Turner, Stone & Co., six men, Main street. 
Abbott & Knisely, five men, Main street. 
Loree & Wasson, one man, Main street. 
P. Holcorab, one man. Main street. 

BLACKSMITHS. 

Bishop & Seager, two hands employed. Main street. 
Johnson & Snider, two hands employed, Center street. 
Walter Billings, two hands employed, Main street. 
Wm. E. Vickery & Co., Locust street. 
Nash & Wann, Center street. 

WAGON MAKERS. 

H, D. Wiley, two hands, Main street. 
A. C. Strickland, Uvo hands, Center street. 
D. E. Snider, two hands, Center street. 
Nash & Wann, two hands, Center street. 

LUMBER DEALERS. 

Smith Bros., near Depot. Price & Stocking, near Depot. 

D. W. Cunningham, near Depot. 

GRAIN ELEVATORS, STORAGE, AGRICULTURAL IMPLE- 
MENTS. 

Sleight & Downer, Station street. 
Bintbrd, Morgan & Co. , East Main street. 
Willigrod & Geier, Station street. 
Abram Stanley, Station street. 

FURNITURE DEALERS. 

Wilham East, Main street. S. Lacey, south side Main street. 

Dunham & Cronkleton, Broom Warehouse. 

, ARCHITECTS. 

Col. W. Legg, Center street. 

A. White. B. F. Deau. S. Kline. 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 157 



ATTORNEYS. 

Boardman & Brown, Woodbury's block. 
Henderson & Binford, Woodbury's block. 
J. H. Bradley, Woodbury's block. 
•J. W. Street, over Glick's Drug Store. 
B. W. Johnson, over Glick's Drug Store. 
Obed Caswell, Woodbury's block. 
L. W. Griswold, Main street. 
J. M. Sherwood, Main street. 
J. N. Parker, Main street. 
W. E. Snelling, Main street. 

REAL ESTATE AGENTS. 

Johnson k Giddings, Court house. 
McCracken, Cooper & Weatherly, Court house. 
Boardman & Brown, Main street. 

PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS. 



Dr. E. J. B, Slater, Center street. Dr. A. Lang, Main street. 

Dr. A. J. Sherwood, Main street. Dr. W. B. Waters, Main street. 

Dr. L. E. Holt, Main street. Dr. J. Lawrence, Main street. 

MUSIC TEACHERS. 

Prof. J. D. Montgomery and Lady, Main street. 

Prof. H. H. Heighton, Center street. 

Miss Nettie Cole. Mrs. A. McClure. 

Silver Brass Band, H. Gerhart, Leader. 

COUNTY OFFICERS. 

T. P. Lampman, County Jv/lge. 

H, Gerhart, Treasurer. J. L. Williams, Clerk. 

TnoiiAS McCracken, Sheriff. A. J. Cooper, Recorder. 

CITY OFFICERS. 

B. W. Johnson, Mayor. Thos. Mercer, Treasurer. 

J. Lee Knight, Recorder. M. Munsell, Marshal. 

G. Glick, a. Abbott, } ^,„.,,.,7„..,, 

N. WILLARD, J. H. McLaIN, f ^^W««'»^^'^- 



STATEMENT OF BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS. 



Amount donated by Marietta for Aid Societies and Orphans' 
Home Fair, $2,340. 

Amount raised by the Marshall County Auxiliary Aid Society, for 
the Dubuque Sanitary Fair, $2,800.57. 

M. E. Griffith, Sec. ^^^^- ^- ^' ^^^^'^^' ^^'^^• 

Julia Leach, Treas. 

Whole amount of proceeds of Orphans' Home Fair, Marshall- 
town, $16,000. 

"Whole amount given by Marshall County for sanitary supplies 
at points South, $4,708.27. 

Net proceeds of the Marshalltown Orphans' Home Society, 
^997.23. 

Mrs. N. Hamilton, Sec. JJ^"" ^^^^^^ ^^nford, I^res^ 
Mrs. M. East, Treas. ^^^' ^^^^^^^ Whealex, V.Fres. 

Amount raised from Tableaux (by Mrs. M. A. Boardman and Mrs. 
N. Hamilton), for Orphans' Home Fair, $216. 



STATEMENT 

Of Monies invested in some of (lie prmcipal Buildings finished in Mar- 
sJiaUtown, November., 1867. 

"Wells Rice's splendid brick block, 40 by 80 feet, three stories, 
$15,000. John Crellin, Architect. 

Abbott & Kuisely — brick block, 22 by 50 feet, two stories, 
$5,000. 

E. Wilhgrod, Esq. — mansion, Rhenish style of architecture. 
Mansard roof, modern improvements, $14,000. B. F, Dean, Ar- 
chitect. 

J. L. "Williams — mansion, architecture of the Elizabethan pe- 
riod, $11,000. G. F. Kline, Architect. 

Hon. G. M. Woodbury — mansion, finished recently, Gothic 
style, $10,000. 

Hon. H. E. J. Boardman — mansion, union of the Tudor and 
Elizabethan styles, $12,000. 

Hon. T. E. Brovrn — elegant mansion, iron and stone facings, 
Elizabethan style, $12,000. 



MARSHALL OOUNTY INSURANCE AGENCY. 



C. W. FRACKER, 

§®Bi©pal iMnpaat® Agm 

AND NOTARY PUBLIC, 
OF MARSHALLTOWX, IOWA. 



#^0,000,000.00 CA.SH C^PITA-IL.. 



AND LIVE STOCK INSURANCE. 



LIST OF com:pa.]N"ies. 

Mutual Life, New York, $22,000,000 00 

Accident, Columbus, O., 1,000,000 00 

Live Stock, Hartford, 500,000 00 

Railway Passenger, Hartford, 304,800 00 

^tna Fire Insurance €0., Hartford, 4,273,269 81 

Home Fire Insurance Co., New^ York, 3,645,388 87 

Underwriters' Agency, New York, 3,364,957 78 

liorillard Fire, New York, 1,436,540 27 

RIanliattan Fir*, New fc ork, 1,052,128 10 

Corn Exchange Fire, New York,... 501,095 79 

Nortli America Fire, Phiiadelpliia, 1,731,515 14 

Enterpiise Insurance Co., Cincinnati, 1,000,000 00 

$40,809,695 76 

(159) 



HILL, LIDDLE & POLLOCK, 



DKALEES IN 



FISH, SALT, WOODEN WARE, 

Wall and Window Paper, Curtain Fixtures, Oil Cloths, 

STATIONERY, ETC., 
North Main Street , half hloch east of Sank, 



Having recently built our Store, and filled it with a stock of New Goods, 
for which we ^laid cash, thus being able to obtain them at the lowest market 
price, we now solicit the patronage of cash purchasers, believing w^e can furnish 
them with goods at very low prices. 

Please call, examine our stock, and learn our prices. 

Butter, Eggs, etc., taken in exchange for Goods. 

HILL, LIDDLE «fe POLLOCK. 

QXJA^ItER, OITY STOK.E. 



Dr. G£0RG£ WHEALAi^, 

DEALER IN 



\§s^ laii ani iaps^ 

GROCERIES, ETC., 
T>vo Doors from Oentei* Street, 

M41il41Ii Hilil, 

C. W. SHERMAN, Proprietor. 

Free Omtiibus to and from the Cars, Good Stabling attacJied, 

(160) 



JOHN TURNER & CO., 

Wholesale and Eetail Dealers in 



STOVES, IRON, STEEL, NAILS, 

Agricultural Implements, 

TIN, SHEET IROX AND COPPER WARE. 

Agents for the " Stewart Cook Stove," and 
" Studebaker South Bend ^Vagons." 



THE GiOK.r>E]V 



i?> 



FOR SALE BY 



^^m:. c. FA^aE, 

At the Store of B, K. Adams, 

WHEBE UACaiNES CAN BE SEEIT. 
In every Family where the Machines have been used, they give entire satisfaction, 



The following, from an old citizen of Marshalltown, now of Cedar Kapids, 
speaks for Itseff : 

" I have used the Goi-den Washing ^fachine in my family for the last year, 
and find that it saves much labor, and does not get out of order." 

^[R3. E. E. LEACH. 

State and. County R-iglits for Sale. 



(I'll) 



LEE & BROMLEY, 

DEALERS IN 



BOOTS A.lSiJy SHOES, 

HatSf Caps, and Meady 31ade Clothing 9 

MARSHALLTOWN, - - IOWA. 

BINFOllD BRO'S & MORGAN, 

DEALEKS IN 

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS 

Of evei^y- IDescription. 
MARSHALLTOWN, - - - IOWA- 

Keep constantly on hand the very best Wagons, Plows, Seed Sowers, 
Reapers, Moivers, Threshers, Cultivators, etc., etc, 

BANBURY & CASWELL, 

DEALERS IN HEAVY AND LIGHT 

CIGARS, TOBACCO, ETC., 
Mai?i Streety opposite the "Public Squa7'e^ 

MARSHALIiTOWN, - - IOWA. 

eestauka:n^t, 

Comer Main and Second Sts., 

MAKSHALLTOWN, - - - IOWA. 

(1G2) 



\ 



MARSHALIL. MARBLE ^VOK,liS. 

• y 

Wm. a. Smith. , ' Jf'HN Utz. 

SMITH & UTZ, 

DEALBES IN 

Foreign and American Marble 



Monuments, 



TQM 



statues f ^ 



Grave Stones, 




31edallions 



FURNITURE MARBLE, 

South Side of Main Street, East of Court House, 
^- ""iocl^Tox 19. MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA. 



FIRST PRKJMTtJM^S. 

Marshall County Fair, Sept. 2Gth and 27th, 1866. 
Marshall County Fair, Sept. 25th, 26th and 27th, 1867. 
Hardin County Fair, Oct. 10th and 11th, 1866. 
Tama County Fair, Oct. 3d and 4th, 1SG6. 
Tama County Fair, Oct. 10th, 11th and 12th, 1867, 
Iowa Cotinty Fair, Oct. 9th, 10th and 11th, 1867. 
Iowa Valley Fair, Oct^ 18th an / 19th, 1866. 
Iowa Valley Fair, Sept. 18th, 19th and 20th, 1867. 



Give us a call before purchasing, aud we will guarantee satisfaction. 
(1G3) 



MARSHAI.L 

WOOLEIST MILLS 

IJNT FULL OPERATION. 



480 SPINDLES, 10 LOOMS, 

And all the necessary 3Iachinery for Finishing, 



W^ A N T E D. 

loo^ooo i^OTjnsriDs -wooni.. 

At the Highest Cash Price, in Cash, or in exchange for 
GOODS OF OUR OWN MANUFACTURE. 

G. 31. WOODBURY & SON. 

6. M. Woodbury, Pres. T. B. Abell, F. Pres. C. W. Fkackee, Cashier. 



THE 



FIRST NATIONAL BANK, 



OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA. 



nillJECTORS: 

H. E. J. BOARDMAN. THOS. B. ABELL. G. M. WOODBUEY. 

GEO. GLICK. DAVID PAEBET. 

Prompt attention given to Collections. Taxes paid in all Connties in Central Iowa. 

ARCADE PHOTOGRAPH GALLERY, 

I^ear the Bank, MAESHALLTOWN, IOWA. 

AKD A3IBROTYPES, 

In the Highest Style of Art. Coloring in India Ink, Oil, 
or Water Colors. 

J. LEE KNIGHT, Proprietor. 

(TT'IuOOIS: OXJT FOR THE BIO SKCO^'C^T' C-A^SE. 

(164) 



W. C. WooDwoRTH. Geuiujk WiiHTv-N. 

WOODWORTH & WHITTON, 

Wholesale and Retail Dealers in 

BOOTS AND SHOES, NOTIONS nc. 
Come?* of J) fain a?id Centf* Mreeis, 

MARSHALLTOWN, lOW \ 

Looli out for tlie fassengt-r *Ja.r. 



DEALERS IN 

D E Y Q O O D S. 

Boots and Shoes, Hats, Caps, aid N::tion£, 

FIVE DOORS WEST OF THE BAN 

J "W Harvey I 

e". t.' Davis. ' \ JVDait^g^^i'ftQvyr^ fo wai. 

M:R^. IV. JVI. HOL.X 

HAS OPENED 

NEW MILLINERY ROOMS, 

CForvterly occuj>ied by Mrs. Bailey,) 

MAIZSHolLLTOirjV, - - - IOWA. 

Dr. ^^^M. H. MARVIISr, 

Office over W. W. Miller's Boot and Shoe Store, 
IVIARSHALLTOW/V, - - - lO'WA. 



ALL. WOKK WARPtANTKU. 

(165) 



AA^. S. RICE, 

DEALER IN GENERAL 

MERCHANDISE 

Dry Goods, 

Groceries, 

Crockery, 

BOOTS & SHOES, 

Hats and Caps. 



IN NEW SPLENDID BRICK BLOCK, 

West Main Street, MARSHAILTOWN, IOWA. 



Call and examine our Goods and learn our prices, 
(166) 



S. L^O E Y, 



DEALER IN 



FlMIfll 



Two Doors West of Marshall House, 



M^RSHALLTO^^i^, 



(167) 



iU^BOTT & KNISELY, 



Foreign and Domestic 



la^iiWM 



STOVES AND TIN WARE, 



CUTLERY, 



Sporting Apparatus, Plows, Wagon Materialj 



AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, &c., 



Opposite JTIarsliall House, 



MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA, 

(lUS) 



■■f 



'■'... I V 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



lii ill I III nil III llliillil 
016 086 643 3 



